Power tool control system

ABSTRACT

A power tool control system allows a user to operate a power tool through a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with a non-contact measurement and alignment device. The graphical user interface correlates user engageable selectors with a logically related menu of power tool setting options displayed on a display screen in a high quality and easily readable format. The non-contact measurement and alignment device uses one or more lasers to determine power tool settings and establish proper alignment based on user needs. The power tool control system further enables stud detection and visual indication of stud location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/445,290, filed on May 21, 2003, which claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/429,840, filed on Nov. 27, 2002, and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/413,455, filed on Apr. 14, 2003 which claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Application 60/414,200, filed on Sep. 27, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Application 60/373,752, filed on Apr. 18, 2002, herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of power tools, and particularly to a power tool control system for use with a variety of power tools, such as table saws, belt sanders, lathes, disc sanders, planers, wood shapers, boring machines, jointers, drill presses, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power tools are used to accomplish a variety of tasks. No matter the task, the production of accurate and precise work is a high priority. Unfortunately, the precision and accuracy of work performed on these power tools is limited by human error and sub-standard equipment. Even when equipment with the latest advances, such as laser guidance technology, is employed it is often the case that the use of such technology is difficult for the equipment operator. The difficulties experienced by an operator may be due to a variety of reasons, such as inadequate instructional aids available from the manufacturer or dealer, overly complex operational requirements, or a poorly designed and organized user interface. Such difficulties have rendered many valuable advances in tool technology unpopular or obsolete due to operator dissatisfaction and frustration.

Many power tools today have incorporated guidance mechanisms, such as laser guidance technology, into their power tool assembly. These mechanisms assist an operator in identifying and maintaining an accurate work product as the power tool executes a function upon a work piece. However, the operator is still required to establish the location of operation and this may result in imprecise and inaccurate work piece production due to imprecise measurements and settings established by the operator. Further, it is often necessary to perform different functions and then return to previous settings. Consequently, the operator is forced to establish and then re-establish settings, which may lead to further imprecision and inaccuracy in the work product produced due to operator error.

Additionally, the use of advanced technology such as the laser guidance systems often provide user interface technology which is limited in capabilities, lacks a coherent and easily understood organizational structure for the information it gathers and provides to the operator, and makes accessing the information made available by it use difficult due to low quality display mechanisms and user interaction assemblies. Many of the difficulties experienced by operator's when employing the user interface devices may primarily be the result of a focus on the technology and not the user. For example, the user interface may provide the ability to access numerous features but have a display mechanism that is so cluttered that it becomes burdensome to decipher the relevant information. Many times, to correct for this problem, the user interface is stripped of numerous capabilities and the user is left with insufficient resources to accomplish their tasks.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a power tool control system that enables a power tool operator to establish precise and accurate measurements and settings for a power tool and provide a user friendly user interface assembly in order to ensure work product of a high quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is a power tool control system that enables a user to operate a power tool through a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with a non-contact measurement and alignment device. The graphical user interface correlates user engageable selectors with a logically related menu of power tool setting options displayed on a display screen in a high quality and easily readable format. The non-contact measurement and alignment device uses one or more lasers to determine power tool settings and establish proper alignment based on user needs.

In a second aspect of the present invention a table saw comprising a frame coupled with a table, said table having an aperture. A trunion moveably and operatively connected to said frame, said trunion supporting a blade and drive assembly, said blade capable of being operatively extended from said table aperture, said blade being operatively tilted in at least one axis tangent to said table. A fence moveably coupled with said table and generally moveable parallel to said blade. A non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with said table saw, the non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a table saw setting: (i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (iii) fence to blade distance. A graphical-user-interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical-user-interface for user operation of said table saw for indicating at least two of a table saw setting: (i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (iii) fence to blade distance.

In a third aspect of the present invention a nail gun, including a nose casting assembly coupled with a casing housing a nail driving assembly, comprises a stud finder detector assembly coupled with the nose casting assembly, the stud finder detector assembly for detecting the presence of a stud behind a first surface. A laser indication assembly including a laser source for emitting a laser beam is communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly, the laser indication assembly for indicating the location of the stud. Wherein the laser beam establishes a visual marker on the first surface indicating the position of the stud.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a user friendly power tool control system which presents information and options to the user in a logical manner and allows the user to move within the entire range of applications simply and easily. The correlation of the position of the user engaged selectors with the on screen display options provides an easy to follow progression of power tool setting options. By focusing on the user, the technology is designed to be accessible within a system that a typical person can access without having to spend time learning about the system and its capabilities. This may provide a significant advantage over prior or current systems where the technology is the focus and the user is a secondary consideration.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide power tools employing or capable of employing the power tool control system. In the present application, specific examples illustrate the use of the present invention with a table saw, belt sander, lathe, router, nail gun, drills, drill press, and the like. However, it should be understood that the present invention is contemplated for use with devices which require precise and accurate measurements and settings in order to accomplish a specific task and that would benefit from removing human error from the establishment of these measurements and settings.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a graphical user interface which enables the operation of a power tool through textual and graphical representations on a display screen. The user interface provides logically related menus and folders within the menus which contain various applications and functionality which are easily accessed and displayed in a clear format.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a power tool control system which may be interchanged with various power tool systems. Further, the power tool control system may receive application services which update the existing applications and may provide new applications.

It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a laser apparatus including a computing system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the laser apparatus showing alternative power supply embodiments;

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the computing system shown in FIG. 1, including display screens;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the computing system showing alternative power supply embodiments;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the laser apparatus coupled to a leveling assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a laser apparatus coupled to a level assembly and in communication with a remote computing system;

FIG. 8 is an isometric illustration of a table saw system including the laser apparatus shown in FIG. 1 coupled to a fence connected to a table saw emitting three laser beams;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the table saw system of FIG. 8 illustrating the laser apparatus emitting three laser beams for establishing distance measurements in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the table saw system of FIG. 8 illustrating the laser apparatus emitting a single laser beam for establishing a distance measurement;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the laser apparatus coupled with a combination belt sander and disc sander power tool;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of the laser apparatus coupled with a lathe;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a laser light indicia and reading assembly coupled with a computing system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the laser light indicia and reading assembly coupled to a level assembly, the computing system being coupled to the level assembly and in communication with the laser scanning apparatus;

FIG. 15A, 15B, and 15C illustrate a known scanning module which may be employed in the laser light indicia and reading assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a known scanning module employing a dithering assembly;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a known dithering assembly employing a drive coil and drive magnet to provide mirror oscillation;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a known dithering assembly employing travel stops to control the range of rotational travel imparted to the mirror;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a known dithering assembly employing pads connected to drive and feedback magnets to control the range of rotational travel imparted to the mirror;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of the laser light indicia and reading assembly coupled with a table saw and establishing a laser light cut line;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of the laser light indicia and reading assembly coupled with the table saw and establishing a laser light cut line on a work piece;

FIG. 22 is an illustration of the laser light indicia and reading assembly coupled with a belt sander and establishing a laser beam line;

FIG. 23 is an illustration of the laser light indicia and reading assembly coupled with the belt sander and establishing a laser beam line on a work piece;

FIG. 24 is an illustration of the laser light indicia and reading assembly coupled with a wood shaper and establishing a laser beam line;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating functional steps which are accomplished by the laser apparatus and the laser light indicia and reading assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is an illustration of a laser apparatus connected to a fence on a table saw, whereupon each laser source includes a dithering assembly;

FIG. 27 is an illustration of multiple laser light indicia and reading assemblies connected to a table saw emitting a laser beam grid produced by laser sources with dithering assemblies;

FIG. 28 is an illustration of a laser light indicia and reading assembly connected to a drill press establishing multiple laser beam drill points in a horizontal plane;

FIG. 29 is an illustration of a laser light indicia and reading assembly establishing multiple laser beam drill points in a vertical plane;

FIG. 30 is an isometric illustration of a rotating laser apparatus including a computing system and rotation assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is an illustration of the rotating laser apparatus including a display menu and an angle measurement device;

FIGS. 32 and 33 illustrate the rotation assembly including the angle of measurement device and a lock and release unit operable by the user;

FIG. 34 is an illustration of the rotating laser apparatus in operation;

FIG. 35 is an illustration of the rotating laser apparatus with laser beams produced by laser sources with dithering assemblies;

FIGS. 36 and 37 are illustrations of a computing system of the laser apparatus showing display menus available;

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating functional steps which are accomplished by the rotating laser apparatus;

FIG. 39 is an illustration of a laser apparatus with a single laser source providing a laser beam which is split to emit separate laser beams from the laser beam source assemblies located within the housing by optical splitters;

FIG. 40 is an illustration of the laser apparatus coupled with a computing system that provides a single laser beam which is split to emit separate laser beams from the laser beam source assemblies located within the housing by optical splitters;

FIG. 41 is an illustration of a rotating laser apparatus with a single laser source;

FIG. 42 is an illustration of a rotating laser apparatus with a first and a second laser source;

FIG. 43 is an illustration of the laser apparatus in FIG. 39, including a plurality of photo multipliers disposed within a housing of the laser apparatus;

FIG. 44 is an illustration of a laser apparatus including a leveling mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 45 is an illustration of a plurality of the laser apparatus, shown in FIG. 44, coupled with one another;

FIG. 46 is an illustration of the laser apparatus in FIG. 44, providing leveling readings to a drop ceiling assembly;

FIG. 47 shows an exemplary home screen shown on a display of an exemplary user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 48 shows an exemplary settings screen shown on a display of an exemplary user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 49 shows an exemplary calibration screen shown on a display of an exemplary user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 50 shows an exemplary save screen shown on a display of an exemplary user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 51 shows an additional exemplary save screen shown on a display of an exemplary user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 52 shows a further exemplary save screen shown on a display of an exemplary user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 53 shows a still further exemplary save screen shown on a display of an exemplary user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 54 shows an exemplary scheme according to which a user interface may operate in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 55 shows an exemplary user interface with different screens in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which user interface may execute the scheme shown in FIG. 54;

FIG. 56 shows an exemplary calibration screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 57 shows an additional exemplary calibration screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 58 illustrates an exemplary home screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 59 illustrates various exemplary screens in a distance mode in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 60 illustrates various exemplary screens in an angle mode in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 61 illustrates various exemplary screens in a height mode in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 62 illustrates various exemplary screens in a settings mode in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 63 shows an exemplary distance screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 64 shows an exemplary distance fine adjustment screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 65 shows an exemplary distance relative zero screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 66 shows an exemplary default distance units screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 67 shows an exemplary distance decimal unit screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 68 shows an exemplary distance offset screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 69 shows an exemplary distance recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 70 shows an additional exemplary distance recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 71 shows a further exemplary distance recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 72 shows a still further exemplary distance recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 73 shows an exemplary distance save screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 74 shows an additional exemplary distance save screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 75 shows an exemplary angle screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 76 shows an exemplary angle fine adjustment screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 77 shows an exemplary angle zero screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 78 shows an exemplary angle relative zero screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 79 shows an exemplary angle recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 80 shows an additional exemplary angle recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 81 shows a further exemplary angle recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 82 shows an exemplary angle save screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 83 shows an additional exemplary angle save screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 84 shows an exemplary height screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 85 shows an exemplary height fine adjustment screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 86 shows an exemplary height absolute zero screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 87 shows an exemplary default height units screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 88 shows an exemplary height decimal unit screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 89 shows an exemplary height offset screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 90 shows an exemplary height recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 91 shows an additional exemplary height recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 92 shows a further exemplary height recall screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 93 shows an exemplary height save screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 94 shows an additional exemplary height save screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 95 shows an exemplary settings screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 96 shows an exemplary default global units screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 97 shows an exemplary global metric units screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 98 shows an exemplary system screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 99 shows an exemplary sound screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 100 shows an exemplary brightness screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 101 shows an exemplary laser time out screen in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 102 is an illustration of a nail gun including a stud finder laser indicator assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 103 is an isometric view of the stud finder laser indicator assembly;

FIG. 104 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a stud finder laser indicator assembly removed from a nail gun and being used by an operator to locate and identify the position of a stud behind a surface;

FIG. 105 is an illustration of a nail gun including a laser indication assembly for establishing a visual marker on a surface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 106 is an illustration of a stud finder detector assembly comprising an indicator coupled with a nail gun, the indicator for providing a visual identification to a user when a stud has been detected;

FIG. 107 is an illustration of the coupling assembly used for coupling the stud finder detector assembly with a nose casing assembly of a nail gun;

FIG. 108 is an illustration of the stud finder detector assembly including a battery cavity with a cover for receiving a battery;

FIG. 109 is an illustration of a stud finder detector assembly including an adapter for receiving an AC power supply through and a port for coupling with a peripheral device;

FIG. 110 is an isometric view of the stud finder detector assembly detecting a stud and identifying the detection of the stud through an indicator;

FIG. 111 is an illustration of the coupling assembly used for coupling the laser indication assembly with a nose casing assembly of a nail gun;

FIG. 112 is an illustration of the laser indication assembly including a battery cavity with a cover for receiving a battery;

FIG. 113 is an illustration of a laser indication assembly including an adapter for receiving an AC power supply and a port for coupling with a peripheral device;

FIG. 114 is an illustration of a laser indication assembly including a laser source providing a visual indicator on a surface;

FIG. 115 is an illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of a stud finder detector assembly and a laser indication assembly including a coupling assembly allowing the two assemblies to physically and communicatively couple to form a stud finder laser indicator assembly;

FIG. 116 is an illustration of a nail gun employing the stud finder laser indicator assembly of FIG. 115 and establishing a cross-hairs visual marker on a surface indicating the location of a stud behind the surface;

FIG. 117 is an illustration of a nail gun employing the stud finder laser indicator assembly of FIG. 115 and establishing a pair of dashed line visual markers on a surface indicating the location and approximate width of a stud behind the surface;

FIG. 118 is an illustration of a nail gun employing the stud finder laser indicator assembly of FIG. 115 and establishing a pair of line-dash-line visual markers on a surface indicating the location and approximate width of a stud behind the surface;

FIG. 119 is an illustration of a nail gun employing the stud finder laser indicator assembly of FIG. 115 and establishing a pair of continuous line visual markers on a surface indicating the location and approximate width of a stud behind the surface;

FIG. 120 is an illustration of a nail gun employing the stud finder laser indicator assembly of FIG. 115 and establishing a pair of light pointer visual markers on a surface indicating the location and approximate width of a stud behind the surface and a cross-hairs visual marker for establishing the approximate center of the stud;

FIG. 121 is an illustration of a nail gun employing the stud finder laser indicator assembly of FIG. 115 and establishing a pair of light pointer visual markers on a surface indicating the location and approximate width of a stud behind the surface and a dashed line visual marker for establishing the approximate center of the stud;

FIG. 122 is an illustration of a nail gun employing the stud finder laser indicator assembly of FIG. 115 and establishing a pair of dashed line visual markers on a surface indicating the location and approximate width of a stud behind the surface and a line-dash-line visual marker for establishing the approximate center of the stud;

FIG. 123 is an illustration of a stud finder laser indicator assembly pivotally coupled with the nose casting assembly of a nail gun wherein a visual marker is established on a surface indicating the location of a stud behind the surface and is enabled to maintain the visual marker on the identified location even when the nail gun is moved out of position relative to the position of the stud;

FIG. 124 is an illustration of a second embodiment of a stud finder laser indicator assembly pivotally coupled with the nose casting assembly of a nail gun wherein a visual marker is established on a surface indicating the location of a stud behind the surface and is enabled to maintain the visual marker on the identified location even when the nail gun is moved out of position relative to the position of the stud;

FIG. 125 is an illustration of a horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly coupled with a nose casting assembly of a nail gun in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 126 is an isometric view of the horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly showing a stud sensor assembly and a plurality of lens disposed on a housing of the horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly;

FIG. 127 is an illustration of a third exemplary embodiment of the stud finder laser indicator assembly coupled with a nose casting assembly of a nail gun establishing a pair of light pointer visual markers indicating the location and the approximate width of a stud and a dashed line visual marker indicating the approximate center of the stud;

FIG. 128 is an isometric view illustrating a tracker assembly coupled with a nail gun, the tracker assembly comprising a user interface assembly including a stud finder laser indicator assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 129 is an expanded view illustrating the tracker assembly including the user interface assembly and the stud finder laser indicator assembly, coupled with the nail gun;

FIG. 130 is a perspective view illustrating a display screen, a first, second, third, and fourth selector, of the user interface assembly, the display screen presenting various visual marker configuration options for selection by the user;

FIG. 131 is a perspective view of the display screen of the user interface assembly providing visual feedback to the user of the position of the nail gun relative to the position of a stud behind a surface and indicating that the nail gun is not centered on the stud;

FIG. 132 is a perspective view of the display screen of the user interface assembly providing visual feedback to the user of the position of the nail gun relative to the position of a stud behind a surface and indicating that the nail gun is positioned at the center of the stud;

FIG. 133 is an illustration of the nail gun coupled with the tracker assembly of the present invention detecting the location of a stud behind a surface and detecting the location of piping and electrical wiring to be avoided by the user of the nail gun when driving a nail;

FIG. 134 is an illustration of the nail gun of FIG. 133 establishing a visual marker on the surface indicating the location of the stud behind the surface and avoiding the piping and electrical wiring located in close proximity to the stud;

FIG. 135 is an illustration of the nail gun of FIG. 133 wherein the user interface is indicating to the user that piping and electrical wiring have been detected and that the user should not drive a nail in this location;

FIG. 136 is a second exemplary embodiment of a tracker assembly coupled with a nail gun, the tracker assembly comprising a user interface communicatively coupled with a stud finder laser indication assembly through use of a cable;

FIG. 137 is an expanded view of the second exemplary embodiment of the tracker assembly coupled with the nail gun, wherein a display screen of the user interface is displaying stud size and composition options for selection by the user of the nail gun;

FIG. 138 is a third exemplary embodiment of a tracker assembly coupled with a nail gun wherein a user interface includes a laser indication assembly and the user interface is communicatively coupled with a stud finder detector assembly through use of a cable;

FIG. 139 is an illustration of a drill coupled with a stud finder laser indicator assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 140 is an illustration of a drywall gun, including a clutched motor, coupled with a second exemplary embodiment of a stud finder laser indicator assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring generally now to FIG. 1, a laser apparatus 100 of the present invention is shown. In the present embodiment, the laser apparatus 100 comprises a housing 102 coupled with a computing system 104. Further, the housing 102 is disposed with a first laser source 106, a second laser source 108, and a third laser source 110. Alternatively, the housing 102 may include a greater or fewer number of laser beam sources in order to meet the needs of a manufacturer or consumer. Each of the three laser sources 106 through 110 is in communication with the computing system 104. In the current embodiment the communicative link is a wireless system, however, alternate systems, such as serial cable, infrared, or the like may be employed.

In the present embodiment, the laser sources 106 through 110 are enabled to emit infrared laser beams. These laser beams are invisible to the human eye, however, light emitting diodes may be linked to the laser beam in order to provide a visual indicator of the travel of the laser beam. In an alternate embodiment the laser sources may be enabled to emit various types of laser beams, such as an ultraviolet laser beam, or the like without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Additionally, a first mounting member 112 and a second mounting member 114 are coupled with the housing 102. The number, location, and configuration of the mounting members may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The mounting members are suitable for connecting the housing 102 to another device such as a power tool. The power tool may be a table saw, a belt sander, a planer, a disc sander, a lathe, a drill press, and the like. In the current embodiment the laser apparatus 100 is shown being suitable for mounting on a fence 116 which would normally be coupled with a table saw. As shown, the mounting members 112 and 114 include a first latch 124 and a second latch 126 which slide through and latch the housing 102 to a mounting assembly, power tool, or other devices. In the current embodiment the first and second latches 124 and 126 are compression latches. However, it is understood that the current latch system may be a variety of latching mechanisms without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The latches 124 and 126 are operably coupled with a first release mechanism 120 and a second release mechanism 122, respectively. In the present embodiment, the first and second release mechanisms 120 and 122 are depression buttons, operable by a user by pressing down on the buttons. However, other release mechanisms, such as switches, rotation knobs, or the like, may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. By depressing the buttons 120 and 122 the latches 124 and 126 are retracted into the mounting member upon which they are disposed. This allows the user to engage and remove the housing 102, of the laser apparatus 100, from the mounting assembly, power tool, or other device the user is currently operating. The location and number of release mechanisms may vary as determined by the number of mounting members and latches disposed on the laser apparatus 100.

The housing further provides the user a first grip 128 and a second grip 130 proximally located next to the buttons 120 and 122. The two grips 128 and 130 are ergonomically shaped to provide the user a secure location with which to grip the housing 102 for depressing the first and second buttons 120 and 122 and releasing the compression latches 124 and 126. The two grips may also be used in transporting the laser apparatus 100.

It is further contemplated that the laser apparatus 100 may include a laser source which emits an incident laser beam from either a first end 116 or a second end 118 of the housing 102. Such a configuration may be desirable in situations where a user needs only one laser beam to produce a finished work product, such as when working on a lathe machine as shown in FIG. 10.

In an alternate embodiment, the three laser beam sources 106, 108, and 110, may comprise modular laser source units. The modular laser source units may be capable of being removed from and inserted into the housing 102. The modular laser source units may be locked in position, once inserted into the housing 102, by use of a variety of system, such as a latch system, compression system, or the like. There may be a variety of modular laser source units disposed with laser sources of varying power. Further, the modular laser source units may include a dithering assembly enabling the laser source to provide dithering functionality. For further discussion on dithering assemblies see FIGS. 21 through 24 below.

Further, the laser apparatus 100 may be comprised of a single laser source. The single laser source may emit an incident laser beam through the housing 102. The single laser source may be attached at either the first end 116 or the second end 118 of the housing 102. Alternatively, the single laser source may be included in the computing system 104. In a single laser source configuration optical splitters, optical reflectors, and photomultipliers may be employed in order to facilitate the functional capabilities of the laser apparatus 100. A detailed discussion of the single laser source design, including the use of optical splitters, optical reflectors, and photomultipliers, is provided in FIGS. 36 through 40.

In the present embodiment, the computing system 104 controls the functioning of each of the three laser sources 106 through 110. A user interacts with the computing system 104 and directs the emitting of a laser beam from each of the three laser sources. Additionally, the computing system 104 monitors the laser beams and provides a display to the user of relevant information.

The information provided on the display may include distance measurements, blade height measurements, blade angle, and the like. Additionally, the laser beams may provide information regarding the truing of the machine and a work piece, and the indexing of the work piece. For example, in a belt sander apparatus as will be shown and discussed in FIG. 11, the user may ensure that the angle of the sander matches the desired specifications using the laser apparatus. Further, a work piece to be presented to the sander may be verified by the laser apparatus to be in the correct position for presentation to the sander. The laser apparatus may also provide an indexing functionality by determining the leading edge of the work piece and monitoring the distance traveled by the work piece. It is contemplated that other information relevant to a variety of power tools may also be provided by the computing system to the user.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the laser apparatus 100 is shown. The housing 102 includes a first receptor port 202 suitable for receiving a portable power source 204. The portable power source 204 provides power for the operation of the laser sources disposed within the housing 102. The first receptor port 202 further includes a removable hatch 206 which fastens in place over the opening of the first receptor port 202. The portable power source 204 may be a variety of devices, such as a rechargeable battery or the like, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is an alternate configuration of the housing 102 where power may be received via a power cord 208 which engages a second receptor port 210. It is understood that typically only one of the above mentioned power source configurations will be employed on the laser apparatus 100 and that FIG. 2 is only an exemplary embodiment of two possible configurations. Further, the location and configuration of the first and second receptor ports 202 and 210 may be varied as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Additionally, a communication port 212 is included in the housing 102 of the laser apparatus 100. The communication port 212 provides a communicative link to the computing system 104, allowing the computing system to communicate with the laser sources 106 through 110 disposed within the housing 102. The location and configuration of the communication port 212 may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, a first coupling port 214 and a second coupling port 216 are included on the housing 102 for coupling with the computing system 104 as will be further described in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show exemplary displays on the computing system 104. Being an interactive system, the computing system 104 includes a first selector 302, a second selector 304, and a third selector 306. The first selector 302 and the third selector 306 allow a user to scroll through choices presented on a display screen 308 of the computing system 104. The second button 304 allows a user to select the desired application choice presented on the display screen 308. For example, in FIG. 3 a user may choose to turn on or turn off the lasers by using the first and third buttons 302 and 306 to select the desired function and then pressing the second button 304 to execute the function. In FIG. 4 the display screen 308 is providing a user with the readouts determined during the process of truing the machine. The user may accept these dimensions by selecting the “cont.” function or reject these dimensions by selecting the “reset” function. It is understood that the displays presented on the display screen 308 are exemplary and may not be read as exclusive. A variety of displays and interactive functionalities may be presented on display screen 308 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Various configurations of the computing system 104 may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Ergonomic shaping and providing additional capabilities is contemplated. The display screen may be a liquid crystal display, back lit monitor, or the like, while the selector features may include rollers, ball knobs, or the like.

In the current embodiment, on one end of the computing system 104 are coupled a first button 310 and a second button 312. Preferably, these buttons are depression buttons, however, other systems as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art may be employed. The two buttons are used in the coupling and uncoupling of the computing system 104 with the housing 102 of the laser apparatus 100, as will be described in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In FIG. 5 the computing system 104 includes a first receptor port 502 suitable for receiving a portable power source 504. The portable power source 504 provides power for the operation of the computing system 104 that may be coupled to the housing 102 and is in communication with the laser sources. The first receptor port 502 further includes a removable hatch 506 which fastens in place over the opening of the first receptor port 502. As described for the portable power source 204 of the housing 102, the portable power source 504 may be a variety of devices, such as a rechargeable battery or the like, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In an alternate configuration the computing system 104 may receive power from a power cord 508 which engages a second receptor port 510. The location and configuration of the first and second receptor ports 502 and 510 may be varied as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Additionally, the computing system 104 includes a first mounting member 512 and a second mounting member 514. These two mounting members couple with the housing 102 of the laser apparatus 104. It is contemplated that a latch and release mechanism is disposed within one of the two mounting members and operably connects with the two buttons 310 and 312. Further, the computing system 104 includes a communication adapter 516 that engages with the communication port 212, shown in FIG. 2, disposed on the housing 102.

Referring to FIG. 6, the laser apparatus 100 is shown with computing system 104 in vertical orientation over the communication port 212 and the first and second coupling ports 214 and 216. The first and second mounting members 512 and 514, disposed on the computing system 104, are positioned to engage with the first and second coupling ports 214 and 216, respectively. The communication adapter 516 is positioned to engage with the communication port 212. In this preferred embodiment, a user must supply sufficient force to couple the computing system 104 with the housing 102. As discussed above in FIG. 3, the first and second buttons 310 and 312 are operably engaged as part of a latch and release mechanism which locks the computing system 104 in place. A latch or latches may be located on the mounting members 512 and/or 514, and as the computing system 104 is pressed into place they may engage with the inside of the coupling ports 214 and/or 216. In order to remove the computing system 104 form the housing 102, the user will depress one or both of the first and second buttons 310 and 312, which will release the latches from the coupling ports allowing the computing system 104 to release from the housing 102. Other systems may be employed to affix the computing system 104 to the housing 102 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The laser apparatus 100 is shown engaging a mounting assembly 602. Preferably, the mounting assembly 602 includes a leveling device 604. The mounting assembly includes a first mounting port 606, a second mounting port 608, and a third mounting port 610. Initially the mounting assembly 602 is mounted to a power tool or other desired device by using the mounting ports. It is contemplated that the mounting ports may be a variety of configurations as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Before the laser apparatus 100 is connected a user may establish that the mounting assembly 602 is in a level position by checking the leveling device 604. In this way the user may ensure that the laser apparatus 100 is level once it is connected to the mounting assembly 602. The mounting assembly 602 further includes a first coupling port 612 and a second coupling port 614 which engage the mounting members 112 and 114 of the laser apparatus 100.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a laser apparatus 700 is shown. The laser apparatus 700 includes a housing member 702 in communication with a remote computing system 703. The housing member 702 is disposed with a first laser source 726, a second laser source 728, and a third laser source 730. Additionally, a mounting assembly 704 capable of connecting with the housing member 702 and providing a communication link between the housing member 702 and the remote computing system 703, is included.

The housing member 702 is similar to that shown and described in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, except that the housing member 702 further includes a communication adapter 708 and does not include the communication port shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The communicative adapter 708 communicatively couples with the remote computing system 703 by engaging the communication adapter 708 in the communicative coupling point 706. This communicative linking allows a user of the laser apparatus 700 to control the laser sources 726 through 730 through the use of the remote computing system 703. Additionally, the housing member includes a first mounting member 732 and a second mounting member 734. The first mounting member 732 is disposed with a compression latch 736 and is operably engaged with a first depression button 740. The second mounting member 734 is disposed with a compression latch 738 and is operably engaged with a second depression button 742. The first mounting member 732 couples with a first coupling port 744 disposed on the mounting assembly 704, and the second mounting member 734 couples with a second coupling port 746 disposed on the mounting assembly 704. As described previously the first and second depression buttons allow the user to remove the housing member 702 from the mounting assembly 704.

The remote computing system 703 is similar to that shown and described in FIGS. 1, and 3 through 6 except that it couples with a remote mounting member 710. The remote mounting member 710, preferably, mounts to a stationary surface, such as a wall, and provides a first communication port 712 for coupling with a communication adapter 722 disposed on the remote computing system 703. Additionally, the remote mounting member 710 includes a first coupling port 714 and a second coupling port 716 for coupling with a first mounting member 718 and second mounting members 720 of the remote computing system 703. Further, the remote mounting member 710 includes a second communication port 724 which couples with a communication adapter 707 connected to the mounting assembly 704.

The mounting assembly 704 is similar to the mounting assembly shown in FIG. 6, except that the mounting assembly 704 further includes a communicative coupling port 706 and a communication adapter 707. The communication adapter 708, disposed on the housing member 702, engages with the communication port 706 providing a communicative link. The communicative link from the housing member 702 to the remote computing system 703 is completed through the coupling of the communication adapter 707 with the second communication port 724 of the remote mounting member 710. The mounting assembly 704 includes a first mounting port 748, a second mounting port 750, and a third mounting port 752. These mounting ports allow the mounting assembly 704 to be coupled to a variety of devices such as power tools and the like.

A table saw system 800 including the laser apparatus 100 mounted on a fence 804 which is connected to a table saw 802, is shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. Preferably, the laser apparatus 100 provides three laser beams. The laser beams may be used to establish three distance measurements indicated by d1, d2, and d3. These measurements are displayed to the user on the computing system 104. Additionally, the laser beams in communication with the computing system 104 may display a variety of information, such as circular saw blade height, circular saw blade angle, or the like. The table saw 802 further includes a circular saw blade 806, a first adjustment mechanism 808, and a second adjustment mechanism 810. In the present embodiment, the first adjustment mechanism 808 enables a user of the table saw 802 to adjust the angle of the circular saw blade 806 relative to the operational field of the table saw 802. The operational field may be defined as that area of the table saw 802 upon which a work piece may be placed and the circular saw blade 806 may perform a cut upon the work piece. In other embodiments where the laser apparatus 100 is mounted or connected to another power tool or device the operational field may include the area where the work piece is placed and a function is performed upon the work piece. The second adjustment mechanism 810 enables a user to adjust the height which the circular saw blade 806 extends above the surface of the operation field of the table saw 802.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the laser apparatus 100 coupled to a table saw 802 is shown. The laser apparatus 100 includes the housing 102 coupled with the computing system 104. The housing 102 is mounted to a fence 804 connected to the table saw 802. In FIG. 10 the single laser source 110 is shown, the laser source 110 is being used to measure the distance d1 from the fence 804 to a circular saw blade 806. In FIG. 9 the housing 102 includes the first laser source 106, the second laser source 108, and the third laser source 110 each emitting a laser beam across the operational field of the table saw 802, from the fence 804 to the circular saw blade 806.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the laser apparatus 100 is shown coupled to a sander system 1100 and a lathe system 1200. In FIG. 11 the sander system 1100 includes a belt sander 1102 with an operational field 1106 and a disc sander 1104 with an operational field 1108. In the current embodiment, two of the laser apparatus 100 systems are employed. One is mounted upon the belt sander 1102 and the other is mounted upon the disc sander 1104. The laser apparatus 100 may provide information on the angle of the sander relative to the operational field and the height the sander extends above the operational field. In FIG. 12 the laser apparatus 100 is coupled to the lathe 1202 and employs a single laser source configuration. The laser source emits a single laser beam which travels down one side of the operational field of the lathe 1202. The laser source may monitor the size of the work piece coupled with the lathe and indicate to the user when the desired work piece size has been reached. In both FIGS. 11 and 12 the location and configuration of the laser apparatus 100 may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 a laser light indicia and reading assembly 1300 is shown. In the current embodiment, the laser light indicia and reading assembly 1300 comprises a housing 1302 which includes a laser source 1304 in communication with a computing system 1306. The housing 1302 is coupled with a mounting member 1308. A communication adapter 1310 communicatively couples the computing system 1306 with the laser source 1304 disposed within the housing 1302 through a cable 1311. The type of cable employed in the present embodiment is a standard serial cable. However, it is contemplated that a variety of connection mechanisms may be employed, such as wireless, infrared, or the like. The computing system 1306 is similar to the computing system 104 in that it provides a display screen 1312, a first selector 1314, a second selector 1316, and a third selector 1318. Additionally, the computing system 1306 may further include a keypad 1320, as shown in the current embodiment. The keypad 1320 may enable increased functionality of the computing system, such as increased control over the laser source.

In FIG. 14 a laser light indicia and reading assembly 1400 is shown. In the present embodiment, the laser light indicia and reading assembly 1400 comprises a housing 1402 which includes a laser source 1404, a computing system 1406, and a mounting assembly 1408. The housing 1402 is coupled with a mounting member 1412 for coupling with the mounting assembly 1408. The mounting assembly 1408 further includes a communication adapter 1410 which couples with the laser source 1404 through the housing 1402. Preferably, the communication adapter 1410 is coupled with a cable 1411 which connects to the mounting assembly 1408. It is understood that the configuration of the communication adapter 1410 and type of cable 1411 employed may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Through the serial cable 1411 the communication adapter 1410 is further communicatively coupled with the communication port 1414.

In the present embodiment, the communication port 1414 is designed to couple with the computing system 1406 when it is mounted to the mounting assembly 1408. Further, a first coupling port 1416 and a second coupling port 1418 are disposed on the mounting assembly 1408 and further engage with the computing system 1406 when the computing system 1406 is mounted to the mounting assembly 1408. The computing system 1406 is similar to the computing system 104 shown and described previously, except that the computing system 1406 includes an indicator 1420. The indicator 1420 is a light emitting diode (LED) which provides indication to the user of the system 1400 when the computing system 1406 is properly mounted and engaged with the mounting assembly 1408. It is contemplated that the computing system 1406 may not include indicator 1406. However, a variety of configurations may be employed for indicator 1420 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

A leveling device 1422 is disposed within mounting assembly 1408. As shown and described previously in FIGS. 6 and 7 the leveling assembly ensures that the laser light indicia and reading assembly 1400 is level with the device to which it is connected. A first mounting port 1426 and a second mounting port 1428 are employed to connect the mounting assembly 1408 with the desired device. In the present embodiment the mounting ports allow for screws to be inserted and fastened to the device and the mounting assembly 1408. However, it is contemplated that a variety of fastening devices and configurations may be employed.

The mounting assembly 1408 further comprises a laser source coupling port 1424. The laser source coupling port 1424 is designed to receive the mounting member 1412 which is coupled to the housing 1402 disposed with the laser source 1404. The mounting member 1412 includes a release mechanism comprised of a button 1430 disposed on the housing 1402, and a latch 1432. The button 1430 is a depression button, operably engaged with the latch 1432, which the user may depress in order to activate the latch 1432. The latch 1432 is a compression latch which retracts back into the mounting member 1412 when the button 1430 is depressed. The latch 1432 is extended away from the mounting member 1412 and engages the inner surface of the laser source coupling point 1424 to affix the housing 1402 to the mounting assembly 1408.

In the preferred embodiment, the laser source for both FIGS. 13 and 14 is enabled as a standard single laser beam producing laser source. Alternatively, the laser source in both FIGS. 13 and 14 may be enabled as a scanning module. A known scanning module 1500 is shown in FIG. 15A, 15B, and 15C. The scanning module 1500 comprises a laser source 1502 with a spherical lens 1504 disposed in a housing 1503. The housing 1503 includes an aperture 1505 through which a laser beam, emitted from the laser source 1502 through the spherical lens 1504, passes. The laser beam travels through a cylindrical lens 1506 and strikes a multifaceted polygon deflector 1510. The multifaceted polygon deflector 1510 deflects the incident laser beam emitted by the laser source through the cylindrical lens 1508 and out to a surface 1512. The surface 1512 is a nominal plane and the incident laser beam is provided a first focus 1514. As indicated by the arrows the scanning module 1500 moves the focused laser beam along the surface 1512. The scanning module may further include two light emitting diode assemblies 1516 and 1518. These assemblies emit a visible light that tracks the position of the laser beam providing an indicator for a user of the scanning module.

The laser beam from the scanning module 1500 may appear as a continuous line defined by the angle of incidence with which the laser beam strikes the multifaceted polygon deflector 1510. As such, the light emitting diodes would provide the visual indication of the defined area to the user.

The scanning module 1500 receives the reflected laser beams through the cylindrical lens 1508. The reflected laser beams may travel directly to the photodetector 1520 or the laser beams may travel to the multifaceted polygon deflector. The laser beams which strike the multifaceted polygon deflector are deflected to a collecting mirror 1522 where they are reflected to the photodetector 1520. In this manner the scanning module 1500 is enabled to read a surface it is scanning.

It is contemplated that the laser source(s) employed in the laser light indicia and reading assembly and the laser apparatus may include a dithering assembly. A typical dithering assembly 1600, known in the art, is shown in FIG. 16. The dithering assembly 1600 includes a laser source 1602 and a mirror 1604 disposed within a housing 1606 and may be employed to establish a laser beam which presents as a continuous line upon a surface. Further, it is known that dithering assemblies may comprise a pair of magnets and a pair of magnetic coils. As shown in FIG. 17 a mirror 1702 is coupled to a base 1704 which is connected to a flexible support arm 1706 that is connected to a support member 1708. A drive coil 1710 is positioned on one side of the flexible support arm 1706 and a feedback coil 1712 is positioned on the opposite side of the flexible support arm 1706. A drive magnet 1714 is connected to the base 1704 and proximally located to the drive coil 1710 while a feedback magnet 1716 is connected to the base 1704 and proximally located to the feedback coil 1712. A drive current (e.g., an oscillating drive current) is run through the drive coil 1710 and causes the mirror 1702 to rotate. The rotation imparted to the mirror 1702 causes a change in the angle of incidence of the laser beam striking the mirror, and thus imparts a change in the angle of reflection imparted to the incident laser beam. As a result, the reflected laser beam appears as a continuous line defined by the rotational range of the mirror 1702.

Additionally, dithering assemblies which control the range of rotation of the mirror are known. FIG. 18 shows one such assembly where a mirror 1802 is connected to a base 1804, which is connected to a flexible support arm 1806 that is connected to a support member 1808 coupled to a surface 1810. A drive coil 1812 is coupled to the support member 1808 in proximal relation to a drive magnet 1814 which is coupled with the base 1804. A first travel stop 1816 and a second travel stop 1818 are disposed in a desired location relative to the mirror 1802 to provide a limited range of rotation by the mirror 1802.

Alternative methods for controlling the range of rotation of the mirror in a dithering assembly may include the use of pads, as shown in FIG. 19. The mirror 1902 is connected to a base 1904, which is connected to a flexible support arm 1906 that is connected to a support member 1908 coupled to a surface 1910. A drive coil 1912 is coupled to the support member 1908 in proximal relation to a drive magnet 1914 which is connected to the base 1904. A feedback coil 1916 is coupled to the support member 1908 in proximal relation to a feedback magnet 1918, which is connected to the base 1904. A first pad 1920 is coupled with the drive magnet 1914, and a second pad 1922 is coupled with the feedback magnet 1918. The pads, which impact with the drive and feedback coils, limit the rotation range of motion of the mirror 1902.

In many dithering assemblies the effects of feedback between the drive coil/magnet and the feedback coil/magnet may have harmful effects, such as increased noise and unstable rotational amplitude production. A feedback sensor, such as a Hall sensor, may be employed to monitor electrical potential in a dithering assembly and trigger a switching of the polarity of the drive current in the drive coil at the appropriate time in relation to the position of the mirror. This switching of polarities reverses the drive force being exerted on the drive magnet and the mirror.

Referring now to FIG. 20, a table saw system 2000 including a laser light indicia and reading assembly 2002, is shown. The laser light indicia and reading assembly 2002 is similar to the laser light indicia and reading assembly 1300 and 1400 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and includes a computing system 2003 similar to that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. In the current embodiment, the table saw system 200 further includes a table 2004, a fence 2006, and a circular saw blade 2008. Additionally, a first adjustment mechanism 2010 and a second adjustment mechanism 2012 are included in the table saw system 200 and operably engage with the circular saw blade 2008 to adjust blade angle and blade height relative to the operational field of the table saw system 2000, as described previously in FIG. 8.

In this embodiment the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2002 establishes a continuous laser beam line 2014. The laser beam line 2014 is laid down across the operational field of the table saw system 2000 and provides a cut line for a user of the system. It is contemplated that the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2002 will establish a laser beam line that tracks the position of the circular saw blade 2008. For example, if the user adjusts the angle of the circular saw blade 2008 relative to the operational field of the table saw system 2000, the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2002 will monitor that change and establish a laser beam line that tracks the position of the circular saw blade 2008.

In an alternate embodiment the laser beam line 2014 may be established using optically activated indicators that are integrated with the table 2004 in positions proximal to the circular saw blade 2008. For example, the table 2004 may be integrated with sensors which respond by illuminating upon being struck by light from the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2002. Alternately, optically activated cables may be integrated into the table saw to provide a laser line. Regardless of the type of optically activated indicators, their positioning relative to the circular saw blade 2008 and the lines of cut that may be established through use of the adjustment mechanisms provides a user an easily ascertained path to guide the cutting of the work piece by.

Referring now to FIG. 21, a table saw system 2100 is shown. The table saw system 2100 comprises a laser light indicia and reading assembly 2102, a table 2104, a fence 2106, and a circular saw blade 2108. The laser light indicia and reading assembly 2102 is coupled to a computing system 2103, similar to that previously described in FIGS. 13 and 14. Additionally, a work piece 2112 is located within the operation field of the table saw system 2100 and is being guided by the fence 2106 and an angular adjustment mechanism 2110. The angular adjustment mechanism 2110 may position the work piece 2112 in a desired angular setting and then guide the work piece 2112 through the circular saw blade 2108 at the set angle. In the current embodiment the laser light indicia and reading assembly establishes a laser beam light line 2114 across the work piece 2112. This laser beam light line 2114 may be used by the user as the cut line and followed throughout the cut.

It is contemplated that the laser light indicia and reading assemblies 2002 and 2102 of FIGS. 20 and 21 may include an indexing and truing functionality. An example of the truing of a work piece may include a user attempting to make a forty five degree angled cut on the work piece. The user may enter this information into the computing system in communication with the laser light indicia and reading assembly and when the work piece is set into the operational field of the table saw system, the laser light indicia and reading assembly may emit a laser beam which identifies the angle that the work piece is set at in relation to the circular saw blade. An example of the indexing of a work piece may include a user attempting to make a notch cut into a work piece that does not run the length or width of the work piece. When the work piece is set into the operational field of the table saw system, the laser light indicia and reading assembly may emit a laser beam which determines the position of the leading edge of the work piece. As the work piece is passed across the circular saw blade, the laser beam enables the laser light indicia and reading assembly to monitor the rate of travel imparted to the work piece and the overall distance of travel across the circular saw by the work piece. In this manner the laser light indicia and reading assembly may communicate to the computing system when the desired length of cut has been accomplished, and have that information passed on the user.

The user may be notified as to the truing and indexing information through the computing system, as previously discussed. Alternatively, the laser light indicia and reading assembly may be provided with an indicator to communicate to the user that the desired specifications have been accomplished. For example, a red light emitting diode may be coupled to the housing of the laser light indicia and reading assembly for indicating to the user that the desired function has not been accomplished. A green light emitting diode, coupled to the housing of the laser light indicia and reading assembly, may indicate to the user that the desired function has been accomplished and it is time to proceed or remove the work piece from the field of operation. Other indication systems as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 22 and 23, an edge sander system 2200, is shown. In the current embodiment, the edge sander system 2200 includes a laser light indicia and reading assembly 2202, a work table 2204, belt sand paper 2206, and an adjustment mechanism 2208. A computing system 2203 is coupled to the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2202. The laser light indicia and reading assembly 2202 and the computing system 2203 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The laser light indicia and reading assembly 2202 may be enabled for truing and indexing of the edge sander and a work piece (such as work piece 2302 shown in FIG. 23) as previously described in FIGS. 20 and 21. For example, a user of the edge sander system 2200 may be attempting to sand off a one-quarter inch segment from a work piece. In the process of sanding, one end of the work piece may be receiving greater pressure than the other resulting in an uneven depth of sanding. The laser light indicia and reading assembly 2200 may indicate to a user that uneven pressure is being applied and identify the end where this is occurring and the corrections that need to be made to true the work piece.

Referring now to FIG. 24, a wood shaper system 2400 is shown. In the present embodiment, the wood shaper system 2400 includes a laser light indicia and reading assembly 2402, a work table 2404, a bit 2406, an on/off mechanism 2408, and an adjustment mechanism 2410. A computing system 2403 is coupled to the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2402. The laser light indicia and reading assembly 2402 may be enabled to determine the angle of presentation and the size of the bit 2406. Additionally, the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2402 may be enabled for truing and indexing of the wood shaper system and a work piece being operated upon by the wood shaper system as described previously.

A flowchart illustrating functional steps which may be accomplished using the laser apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 12 and the laser light indicia and reading assembly of FIGS. 13 through 24, is shown in FIG. 25. The first step 2510 involves the setting of the machine. This involves mounting the laser apparatus to the power tool being utilized. As discussed previously, the laser apparatus may be directly mounted to a power tool or mounted to a separate mounting assembly which is connected to the power tool. Once the laser apparatus has been properly set then in step 2520 the laser apparatus must be trued in order to provide accurate results. This may be accomplished by checking the leveling mechanism as described previously, if such a mounting assembly is being employed or using the laser beams to determine the correct alignment. If the laser apparatus determines that the mounting is untrue it notifies the user. Once the laser apparatus determines it is truly aligned then in step 2530 the work piece is set. Once the laser apparatus determines that the work piece has been set then in step 2540 it determines if the setting of the work piece is true. Once the work piece is trued the user begins operation of the power tool in step 2550. When it is determined that the machining of the work piece is completed in step 2560 operation of the power tool is halted.

It is contemplated that an optically reflective material may be disposed upon a surface that is struck by the laser beam emitted from the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly. In this manner when the laser beams are emitted they will strike the optically reflective material and be reflected. In one embodiment the reflected laser beams may be received by an optical detector disposed within the housing of the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly. The optical detector may be in communication with the computing system and the computing system may process the laser beam information to determine measurements and other setting information. In alternate embodiments the reflected laser beam may be received by one or several optical detector(s) remotely located with respect to the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly, but in communication with the computing system. As stated above the optical detector will relay the information gathered from the laser beam to the computing system where it may be processed and displayed to a user as measurement of setting information. For example, an optically reflective material may be circumferentially disposed about a circular saw blade of a table saw. The table saw may be disposed with a fence that has a laser apparatus (as described in FIG. 1) mounted upon it. The laser apparatus may emit one or more incident laser beams which strike the optically reflective material on the circular saw blade and, if the circular saw blade is perpendicular to the incident laser beams, are reflected back towards the laser apparatus. The laser apparatus may be disposed with one or more optical detectors to receive the reflected laser beam(s) and communicate the information gathered to the computing system for processing and display to a user. The type and configuration of the optically reflective material may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

It is further contemplated that the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly may establish a communicative link with their respective computing systems through a communication system disposed within the device, to which the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly are mounted, itself. In this manner a mounting assembly as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 14 would not be necessary and the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly may be directly mounted to the device. Additionally, the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly may be enabled to accept power from the device to which they are mounted, thus, reducing the need to have a separate power source or power source connection. For example, a fence mounted to a table saw system may be disposed to connect with the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly. The fence may include a communication port, as shown and described on the mounting assemblies of FIGS. 7 and 14, which couples with a communication adapter disposed on the housing of the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly. The fence may further include a communication adapter which may be coupled with the computing system, thereby enabling the computing system to be in communication with the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly. Further, the power source for the table saw system may include an outlet on the fence which may be engaged by the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly to provide power to either system.

Heat build-up within the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly is an important concern. Overheating may result in malfunctioning of the laser source(s) within the housing and cause damage to the laser source or housing necessitating expensive repair and lost time. In one embodiment of the present invention the laser source may be a low power and low intensity laser source to minimize the heat build up with the housing. Such an embodiment is suitable for situations where the use of the laser apparatus and the laser light indicia and reading assembly is sporadic and limited. However, in a situation where the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly are in constant use over prolonged periods of time even a low power and intensity laser source may experience significant heat build up which may damage the system.

To effectively handle a situation where the heat build up is significant, the laser apparatus and the laser light indicia and reading assembly may include a cooling system. In one embodiment, the housing of either system may include vents to allow heat to escape and cooler air to be drawn into the housing to help cool the laser sources. In an alternate embodiment, the cooling system may be comprised of a fan assembly mounted within the housing to blow air through the housing and over the laser source(s). The housing may include a vent located at an end opposite the fan to allow the blown air and heat to escape. In a third embodiment a cooling system may comprise an inert coolant being run through the housing of the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly. The coolant system may include a tank of the inert coolant connected to the housing through tubing and then an exhaust system connected to the housing for removing and disposing of the inert coolant after it has run through the housing. It is contemplated that a coolant system may be disposed within a device to which the laser apparatus and the laser light indicia and reading assembly are connected. The inert coolant may be presented and exhausted through the mounting connection between the device and the laser apparatus or the laser light indicia and reading assembly. For example, the laser apparatus of FIG. 1, may include connection portals in the mounting members. When the mounting members are secured to a fence, such as shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, tubing, which is connected to a tank of the inert coolant, may be connected to one of the mounting members. The inert coolant may be pumped into the housing through the mounting member and then exhausted through the other mounting member. It is contemplated that a variety of coolant systems, as may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art, may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 26 a table saw system 2600 including a laser apparatus 2602, is shown. The table saw system 2600 further includes a work surface 2616, a fence 2618, a circular saw blade 2620, and an adjustment mechanism 2622. The laser apparatus 2602 is similar to the laser apparatus of FIG. 1 with a housing 2604 and a computing system 2614. However, the laser apparatus 2602 includes four laser sources 2606, 2608, 2610, and 2612 disposed within the housing 2604 and each laser source includes a dithering assembly. In the present embodiment, the laser sources establish multiple laser beam lines across the operational field of the table saw system 2600. The laser beams provide information on distance of the fence 2618 from the circular saw blade 2620, the angle of the circular saw blade 2620 relative to the work surface 2616, and have the ability to sense when a work piece has entered the operational field of the table saw system 2600. It is understood that the laser apparatus 2602 may gather a variety of other information as discussed in FIGS. 1 through 12, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 27, a table saw system 2700 including a first laser light indicia and reading assembly 2702 and a second laser light indicia and reading assembly 2704, is shown. Both the first and the second laser light indicia and reading assemblies 2702 and 2704 are coupled to a computing system 2703. The computing system controls the functionality of both laser light indicia and reading assemblies. Alternatively, each laser light indicia and reading assembly may be coupled with a separate computing system. The table saw system 2700 further includes a work surface 2706, a fence 2708, a circular saw blade 2710, and an angle adjustment mechanism 2712. The angle adjustment mechanism is similar to that discussed in FIG. 21. In the present embodiment, the first and second laser light indicia and reading assemblies are similar to the laser light indicia and reading assembly shown and described in FIG. 13, except that each of the housings is disposed with a plurality of laser sources. The plurality of laser sources may be enabled as scanning modules or include dithering assemblies to produce a laser beam grid 2716 upon a work piece 2714. Alternately, the laser beam grid 2716 may be established upon a work surface 2706 of the table saw system 2700. Using the first and second laser light indicia and reading assemblies a user of the table saw system 2700 is enabled to establish multiple cut lines and grid points by intersecting the laser beam lines produced. The exact location of the grid points may be determined by the user and entered into the computing system which controls the laser light indicia and reading assemblies. It is contemplated that a single computing system may be enabled to control both laser light indicia and reading assemblies or that a separate and independent computing system may be used to control each laser light indicia and reading assembly. In an alternate embodiment the laser light indicia and reading assemblies may be disposed with a single laser source as described in FIG. 13.

Referring now to FIG. 28, a drill press system 2800 including a laser light indicia and reading assembly 2802, is shown. The drill press system 2800 includes a housing 2803 disposed with an engagement device 2804 and a drill bit 2806. In the present embodiment, the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2802 is disposed with a laser source enabled to provide a plurality of drill points along two axes. This may be accomplished by a single laser source rotating identification points in series or multiple laser sources may be included within the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2802 to provide multiple identification points. Alternately, the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2802, with a single laser source, may establish a single continuous identification point. A computing system 2803 is coupled to the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2802 and mounted on the housing 2803. Alternatively, the computing system 2803 may be remotely located and couple with the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2802 via a wireless system.

Referring now to FIG. 29, a laser light indicia and reading assembly 2902 included in a boring device system 2900, is shown. The laser light indicia and reading assembly 2902 is coupled to a computing system 2903 and may establish one or a plurality of depth indication points. This may be accomplished by a single laser source rotating identification points in series or multiple laser sources may be included within the laser light indicia and reading assembly 2902 to provide multiple identification points. As the boring bit 2904 proceeds through the work piece 2906 the laser light indicia and reading assembly is enabled to monitor the progress. When the boring bit 2904 reaches the desired depth the laser light indicia and reading assembly will provide an indication to the user of the boring device system 2900. As discussed previously, the indication may be provided through light emitting diodes, or the like.

A rotating laser apparatus 3000 including a first housing member 3002, a second housing member 3004, and a computing system 3006 is shown in FIGS. 30 through 37. The first housing member 3002 includes a first laser source 3014, a second laser source 3016, a communication port 3018, a first coupling port 3020, a second coupling port 3022, and a grip 3024. The first housing member may include a mounting member, a latch, and a release mechanism as described previously in FIG. 1. The second housing member 3004 includes a third laser source 3026, a fourth laser source 3028, and a grip 3030. The second housing member 3004 may also include a mounting member, a latch, and a release mechanism as described previously in FIG. 1. The communication port 3018 provides communicative linkage to all four laser sources disposed within the first and the second housing members.

In the current embodiment, the computing system 3006 is coupled with the first housing member 3002. The computing system 3006 is similar to the computing system 104 described previously. The computing system includes a first selector 3032, a second selector 3034, and a third selector 3036. Further, a display screen 3038 provides an interactive medium for a user who is operating the rotating laser apparatus 3000. Additionally, the computing system 3006 includes a communication adapter 3038 for coupling with the communication port 3018 disposed on the first housing member 3002. The computing system also includes a first mounting member 3040 and a second mounting member 3042 for engaging with the first and second coupling ports 3020 and 3022 disposed on the first housing member 3002. A first button 3044 and a second button 3046 operably engage with the first and second mounting members to perform a latch and release function enabling a user to secure the computing system 3006 to the first housing member 3002 and remove the computing system 3006 from the first housing member 3002. An indicator 3048 is included on the computing system 3006 to provide a user feedback on whether the computing system 3006 is in communication with the four laser sources.

The two housing members 3002 and 3004 are coupled by a rotation mechanism 3008. The rotation mechanism 3008 comprises a joint 3010 coupled with an angle measurement device 3012. The angle measurement device 3012 includes teeth along the outer edge, away from the joint 3010. The teeth of the angle measurement device are engaged by a ratchet arm 3050 coupled on one end with a coiled compression spring mechanism 3052 and an activation mechanism 3054 on the other end. In the present embodiment, the ratchet arm 3050 and the coiled compression spring mechanism 3052 are disposed on the inside of the second housing member 3004 in a position proximal to the angle measurement device 3012. The activation mechanism 3054 extends through the second housing member 3004 allowing the user to depress an activation push button and adjust the angle of the second housing member 3004 relative to the first housing member 3002.

Preferably, joint 3010 is a hinge that allows the first and second housing members to be rotated along two axes, as shown in FIGS. 31 through 35. It is understood that the joint 3010 may be a variety of devices which enable such functionality as may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the angle measurement device 3012 indicates to a user of the rotating laser apparatus 3000 the degree that the first housing member 3002 is relative to the second housing member 3004. The position of the angle measurement device 3012 is fixed relative to the first housing member 3002. The fixed positioning of the angle measurement device 3012 may be accomplished by coupling the angle measurement device 3012 to the first housing member 3002, the joint 3010, or other methods as may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The second housing member 3004 is allowed to slide freely over the angle measurement device 3012 as it is rotated relative to the first housing member 3002.

Alternatively, the rotation mechanism may be comprised of a variety of systems, such as a hydraulic system, compression system, or the like. Further, the user engagement device (i.e., the activation push button of the exemplary embodiment) may be other mechanisms as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the rotation mechanism may be engaged directly by the user, as described above, or the rotation mechanism may be in communication with the computing system and the user may enter the desired angle and the rotation mechanism may set the rotating laser apparatus 3000 in the desired position.

In the present embodiment, each of the two housing members include two laser sources. The first housing member 3002 includes a first laser source 3014 and a second laser source 3016. The second housing member 3004 includes a third laser source 3026 and a fourth laser source 3028. As shown in FIG. 35, the laser sources 3014, 3016, 3026, and 3028 may form a virtual grid allowing the user to specify a particular location for the execution of a function. Alternatively, the rotating laser apparatus 3000 may include a fewer or greater number of laser sources disposed within each of the housing members.

As discussed above, the computing system 3006 is similar to the computing system described previously in FIGS. 1 through 29. In the present embodiment, the computing system 3006 is in communication with the laser sources 3014, 3016, 3026, and 3028, and mounts upon the first housing member 3002. It is contemplated that the coupling of the computing system 3006 may occur upon the second housing member 3004. Exemplary interactive displays, readable on the computing system 2405, are shown in FIGS. 31, 36 and 37. The interactive displays may provide the user a display of the status of the laser source(s), the angle between the first and second housing members, the type of pattern to established, and gather information from the laser beams. Further, when the computing system 3006 is in communication with the rotation mechanism 3008 an interactive display on the computing system 3006 may allow the user to enter the desired angle and have the rotation mechanism set to that angle.

Referring now to FIG. 38, a flowchart illustrating the functional steps achieved using the interactive display of the computing system 3006 of the rotating laser apparatus 3000, is shown. In step 3810 the interactive display 3008 of the computing system 3006 asks the user to specify if an angle is required for the current assignment. The angle referred to is the angle that the first housing member 3002 is at relative to the second housing member 3004. If the user responds in the affirmative to this query then the user is asked to specify the angle required in step 3820. After the angle has been specified or if no angle is required for the current assignment, as directed by the user inputting the information through the interactive display 3008 of the computing system 3006, then in step 3830 the laser pattern is established.

Establishing the laser pattern occurs by the user being asked on the interactive display to specify the laser pattern required. In step 3840 the user is asked if the laser pattern is a straight laser pattern. If the user responds affirmatively, indicating that a straight laser pattern is to be established, then in step 3860 the laser signal is sent to establish the straight pattern. If in step 3840 a user indicates that a straight pattern is not desired then the user is asked, in step 3850, if a cross pattern is to be established. If the user responds to this query by indicating that a cross pattern is not to be established then the computing system 3006 returns to step 3830 and the interactive display prompts the user that the laser pattern setting must be established. It is contemplated that the computing system 3006, through the interactive display 3008, may allow for the user to manually enter a laser pattern to be established. If the user responds to the query of step 3850 in the affirmative, indicating that a cross pattern is to be established, then in step 3860 the laser signal is sent to establish the cross pattern.

Referring now to FIG. 39, a laser apparatus 3900, is shown. In the current embodiment, the laser apparatus 3900 comprises a housing 3902 and a laser source 3904 coupled with the housing 3902. The housing 3902 further includes a first optical splitter 3906, a second optical splitter 3908, and a third optical splitter 3910. Further, the housing includes a first optical reflector 3912. Each of the optical splitters and the optical reflector is disposed within the housing 3902 in proximal location to a first emitter 3914, a second emitter 3916, a third emitter 3918, and a fourth emitter 3920, respectively.

The optical splitters function to split an incident laser beam received into two or more refracted laser beams. For example, in FIG. 39, an incident laser beam 3922 from the laser source 3904 strikes the first optical splitter 3906 whereupon the incident laser beam is divided into a first laser beam 3924 and a second laser beam 3926. The first laser beam 3924 is directed to the first emitter 3314 where it is emitted from the housing across an operational field. The operational field may be a variety of work area, such as those found on a table saw, drill press, belt sander, lathe, or the like. The second refracted laser beam 3926 is directed towards the second optical splitter 3908. In effect, the second laser beam 3926 is the incident laser beam for the second optical splitter 3908 whereupon striking the second optical splitter the second refracted laser beam is divided into a third laser beam 3928 and a fourth laser beam 3930. The third laser beam 3928 is directed to the second emitter 3916 where it is emitted form the housing across the operational field. The fourth laser beam 3930 becomes the incident laser beam for the third optical splitter 3910. The third optical splitter 3910 divides the laser beam into a fifth laser beam 3932 and a sixth laser beam 3934. The fifth laser beam 3932 is directed to the third emitter 3918 where it is emitted from the housing across the operational field. The sixth laser beam 3934 becomes the incident laser beam for the first optical reflector 3912. The first optical reflector 3912 directs the laser beam to the fourth emitter 3920 where it is emitted from the housing across the operational field.

A single laser source may reduce the power consumption of the current invention and provide a more effective way to deal with heat build up, which is inherent within a laser beam generating source. In an alternate embodiment the laser source may be a modular laser source capable of being inserted and removed from the housing of the laser apparatus. This may increase operational safety and provide an easier method of caring for the laser source by being able to remove it and store it in a separate location. Additionally, a variety of laser sources may be enabled to couple with the housing of the laser apparatus of the current invention. Thus, the user of the laser apparatus with a modular laser source has the capability of inserting the appropriate laser source for the job to be accomplished. For example, the user may need a simple laser source for one job and then require a laser source with a dithering assembly for another job. Additionally, the user may require a smaller output laser source in one situation and a larger output laser source in another. The needed functionality required by the user may be easily enabled with multiple modular laser sources with differing functional capabilities.

Referring now to FIG. 40, a laser apparatus 4000 is shown. In the present embodiment the laser apparatus 4000 comprises a housing 4002 coupled with a computing system 4004. Preferably, the computing system 4004 is similar to the computing systems described previously, except that in the present embodiment the computing system 4004 includes a laser source 4006. The housing includes a first optical splitter 4008, a first optical reflector 4010, a second optical splitter 4012, a third optical splitter 4014, and a second optical reflector 4016. The housing further includes a first emitter 4018, a second emitter 4020, a third emitter 4022, and a fourth emitter 4024.

The laser source 4006 emits an incident laser beam into the housing 4002 which is then split by a first optical splitter 4008 into a first laser beam 4026 and a second laser beam 4028. The first laser beam 4026 is directed to the first optical reflector 4010 where it is reflected through the first optical emitter 4018 and emitted across an operational field. The second laser beam 4028 is directed to the second optical splitter 4008 which divides the second laser beam into a third laser beam 4030 and a fourth laser beam 4032. The third laser beam 4030 is directed through the second emitter 4020 across the operational field and the fourth laser beam 4032 becomes the incident laser beam for the third optical splitter 4012. The third optical splitter 4010 divides the fourth laser beam 4032 into a fifth laser beam 4034 and a sixth laser beam 4036. The fifth laser beam 4034 is directed through the third emitter 4022 across the operation field and the sixth laser beam 4036 becomes the incident laser beam for the second optical reflector 4014. Upon striking the second optical reflector 4014, the sixth laser beam 4036 is reflected through the fourth optical emitter 4024 and emitted across the operational field.

In an additional embodiment, the laser apparatus may include an optical splitter control mechanism. This mechanism may allow a user to determine the number of laser beams emitted from the housing of the laser apparatus. This may be beneficial When the laser apparatus is being used in situations where the size of the work surface and other components are constantly changing. For example, on a table saw all four emitters may need to be engaged to cover the work surface presented. However, a drill press may have a much smaller working surface and using more than two emitters may not be beneficial to gathering the needed information as they may be outside the scope of the work surface available.

Referring now to FIG. 41, a rotation laser apparatus 4100 including a single laser source 4102, is shown. The single laser source 4102 emits an incident laser beam 4104 which is split by a first optical splitter 4106 and a second optical splitter 4108. The laser beam is also reflected by a first optical reflector 4110 and a second optical reflector 4112. The optical splitters and reflectors function in the same manner as described previously in FIGS. 39 and 40. In the present embodiment the single laser source 4102 is located within the joint 4114 connecting a first housing member 4116 to a second housing member 4118. Power may be provided through a portable power source or a power cord as described in previous figures.

A rotation laser apparatus 4200 including a first laser source 4202 and a second laser source 4204, is shown in FIG. 39. In the present embodiment a first housing member 3606 is disposed on one end with the first laser source 3602 and connected at the opposite end, through joint 3608, to a second housing member 3610. The second housing member 3610 is disposed on the opposite end of its connection to the joint 3608 with the second laser source 3604. The first housing member 3606 further includes a first optical splitter 3612 and a first optical reflector 3614. The second housing member 3610 further includes a second optical splitter 4216 and a second optical reflector 4218. The operation of the splitters and reflectors is similar to that previously described in FIGS. 39 and 40.

In both FIGS. 41 and 42 the number and configuration of optical splitters and reflectors may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. It is understood that the laser sources shown in the present embodiments are exemplary and may not be read as limiting or exclusive. As discussed in FIGS. 39 and 40 the laser apparati of FIGS. 41 and 42 may includes photo multipliers of various configurations in order to provide additional functionality to the laser apparatus. Alternatively, the laser sources provided in FIGS. 41 and 42 may be modular. The laser sources may be removed from the joint or the housing members and replaced with alternate laser sources.

Referring now to FIG. 43, a laser apparatus 4300 is shown. The laser apparatus 4300 comprises a housing 4302 disposed with a laser source 4304. The housing is further disposed with a first optical splitter 4306, a second optical splitter 4308, a third optical splitter 4310, and an optical reflector 4312. The functionality of the optical splitters and the optical reflector is similar to that described in FIGS. 39 through 42. Additionally, the housing includes a first emitter 4314, a second emitter 4316, a third emitter 4318 and a fourth emitter 4320.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of light signal enhancing instruments 4322, 4324, 4326, and 4328. These light signal enhancing instruments may be photomultipliers comprising a variety of designs, such as photomultiplier end-on tubes, side-on photomultipliers, or the like. The photomultipliers may accept an incident laser beam and intensify the light signal by increasing the number of electrons in order to maintain sufficient light signal strength as the laser beam is being passed down from one optical splitter to the next. Further, the light signal enhancing instruments may be positioned in front of the emitters in order to provide optimum light signal output.

Alternatively, the light signal enhancing instruments may include a secondary laser source, such that the incident laser beam received has its signal strength increased. For example, a low power laser source may be included within the light signal enhancing instrument which contributes a second light signal to the existing laser beam in order to make up for a loss of light signal intensity. Such a system of multiple light signal enhancing instruments may decrease production costs by substituting low power laser sources for separate and independent laser sources located throughout the laser apparatus. It is understood that the configuration and numbers of light signal enhancing instruments may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 44, 45, and 46, a laser apparatus 4400 is shown. In the current embodiment, the laser apparatus 4400 comprises a housing 4402 including a leveling mechanism 4404 and a wireless receiver 4406. The housing 4402 further includes a communication port 4407, an attachment adapter 4408, and an attachment receiver 4410. Additionally, the housing 4402 includes a first laser source 4412, a second laser source 4414, a third laser source 4416, and a fourth laser source 4418.

The leveling mechanism 4404 enables a user to determine the level characteristics of the laser apparatus 4400 in any location. Previous embodiments of the laser apparatus showed the leveling mechanism within the mounting assembly. By placing the leveling mechanism within the housing 4402, the user may establish accurate placements in locations such as on a wall for use in mounting a drop ceiling, as shown in FIG. 46.

The laser sources 4412 through 4418 are similar to the laser sources shown and described previously. It is contemplated that a laser source may be located to emit a laser beam from either end of the housing 4402. For example, a laser source may be positioned within the attachment adapter 4408. By placing the laser source at either end of the housing the laser apparatus 4400 may be enabled to determine the level characteristics of objects located along a flat surface to which the laser apparatus 4400 is mounted, such as a picture on a wall or the like.

The wireless receiver 4406 enables communication between the laser apparatus 4400 and a computing device 4502, shown in FIG. 45. In alternate embodiments the computing system may be communicatively coupled to the laser apparatus using a variety of systems, such as serial cable, Bluetooth, Infrared, or the like. The wireless communication system allows a user to mount the laser apparatus 4400 in a remote location, such as that shown in FIG. 46, and receive information on the computing system 4502. For example, shown in FIG. 46, the laser apparatus 4400 is mounted to a wall to provide leveling information for a drop ceiling. A first laser beam 4602 and a second laser beam 4604 are shown striking a support rail 4606 for the drop ceiling. In this situation the laser apparatus may communicate to the computing system that the support rail 4606 is not level at the two identified points. A third laser beam 4608 and a fourth laser beam 4610 may provide no such indication that the support rail 4606 is out of level. Thus, a user is informed not only of the misalignment but also where along the support rail 4606 the misalignment is occurring.

The attachment adapter 4408 and the attachment receiver 4410 enable linking of one laser apparatus to another. As shown in FIG. 45, a plurality of laser apparatus 4400 may be connected. In this embodiment, the multiple laser apparatus are in communication with the computing system 4502. It is contemplated that the attachment adapter and attachment receiver provide a communicative link between each of the laser apparatus 4400 allowing a single computing system to control all connected laser apparatus. Alternately, each laser apparatus may receive the wireless signal 4504 being sent out by the computing system 4502.

It is understood that the leveling mechanism 4404 may be disposed within any of the previous embodiments of the laser apparatus, shown in FIGS. 1 or 30. It is further understood that the laser apparatus 4400 may include mounting members and latch and release mechanisms, such as those previously shown and described in FIG. 1. Additionally, a mounting assembly for connecting the laser apparatus 4400 to a wall or other vertical surface is contemplated. The communication port 4407 enables a computing system to communicate with the laser sources 4412 through 4418. The housing 4402 of the laser apparatus 4400 may be disposed with both the wireless receiver 4406 and the communication port 4407 or one or the other.

Smooth and easy operational control over a complex technological system, such as a laser guidance, measurement, and alignment system, may be critical to the success of any device. In the power tool field, this is even more critical as a user of power tools employing complex technology is often faced with a chaotic and dangerous working environment filled with loud noises, many moving parts, dust and debris which hamper visual capabilities, and a variety of different operations which require their attention. Therefore, the control device that the user employs to control the power tool must be simple and yet effectively provide the capability to control numerous complex tasks. In the field of power tools, the control device may be referred to as the user interface. The user interface of the present invention is designed to better serve the user by focusing on providing complex technology in an easy to understand or intuitive format.

Many times when complex technologies are incorporated into existing devices, such as laser systems with power tools, the focus is on the technology and the user is forced to comprehend a bewildering array of new standards and display terminology. With the present invention the technology serves the user by joining the complexity of the laser system with a user interface that provides simple to follow and easy to understand textual and/or graphical representations. Out-of-the-box implies a level of user friendliness with the idea being that any user may take the present invention and by simply turning it on, start using it with ease. For example, when a user interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is first turned on it may provide a calibration of the current settings of a power tool environment without being prompted by the user. From the calibration the user interface logically organizes and communicates the information to the user. Additionally, the user interface may present the user with operational choices logically related through easy to identify monikers providing a smooth flow to the user's navigation through the various user interface applications. Another example of the ease of use of the current user interface may involve the use of circular saws. All circular saw blades establish a kerf during their cut. A kerf is the area of material removed by the blade during the cut. While the kerf may be a minimal value it is not always an insignificant value and a user may wish to have the ability to account for the kerf of the cut when establishing settings. The user interface of the present invention may provide an operator the capability of determining the kerf for the circular saw blade through a user selectable menu of choices with pre-programmed kerf information. In the alternative, the user interface may establish the kerf of the circular saw blade being used without operator input and adjust all settings made to account for the kerf. Another embodiment of the present invention may be the user interface being able to determine the kerf of the circular saw blade being used through identification of a marker on the blade, such as a bar code imprinted on the blade. It is understood that adaptation of the user interface for use with other types of power tools may also include the ability to account for the amount of material removed by the power tool when establishing settings for the power tool.

The correlation by the user interface of the selectors engaged by the user with the information the user sees on the display screen is an example of focusing on the user. This simple and effective design gives the user both qualitative and quantitative feedback on the various types of information the user may wish to see or adjust. The selectors may be buttons located on any surface of the user interface which provides for the appropriate correlation of the buttons with the icons on the display screen. Providing a display screen using liquid crystal display (LCD) technology is another example of focusing on the user. The LCD provides a visual field which has been proven to effectively reduce visual identification stress for a user. The color scheme and font types for the textual and graphical representations are designed to increase ease of use, even in the often dynamic working environments within which the user interface may be employed. Providing a backlit display screen also highlights the focus of the present invention, which is on the user.

Powering the user interface of the present invention may occur through the use of batteries which are received in a battery cavity within the user interface. The user interface allows for the use of standard types of batteries for easy replacement and cost reduction. It is understood that the user interface may employ a variety of power sources, such as AC power through the use of a standard AC cord or fuel cells. Regardless of the power source used, the user interface provides a clear display to the user of the status of the power source. This may be helpful to avoid unnecessary delays caused by power failures which may have been avoided had the operator of the user interface known the status of the remaining power supply.

The user interface of the present invention may provide a computing system capable of executing applications which are visualized for the operator on a display. Thus, the user interface is enabled to receive updates to its current applications inventory or replacement of applications should the need arise. For example, the user interface may execute a specific range of applications for the operation of a power tool such as a table saw, or the like. However, the operator may wish to retro-fit the user interface on a belt sander. The belt sander will have different operating requirements and capabilities than a table saw and therefore the user interface may need to download an application set directed for the operation of a belt sander. Accomplishing this updating or replacing of applications may occur using a variety of different technologies. For instance, the user interface of the present invention may include a docking station which, when the user interface is docked, allows for a communicative link to be established between the user interface and a peripheral computing system. Thus, information may be downloaded to the user interface from the peripheral computing system and the user interface may upload information to the peripheral computing system. The user interface may be disposed with communications ports, such as a serial cable port, infrared port, RF port, Bluetooth port, and the like, which allow it to network with peripheral computing systems.

Through a user interface of the present invention, an operator of a power tool, such as a table saw, may establish the settings and measurements to be used with the power tool. For example, a user of the table saw may set a desired fence to blade distance, blade height, blade angle, etc., through the user interface. When the feedback from the laser apparatus 100 indicates that the desired orientation has been reached it may provide an indication to the user, through the user interface. Indicators may include visual and audio feedback, and the like. For example, a sound feedback mechanism provided by a user interface of the present invention may present an audible signal to a user when a tool is in the selected position (e.g., when a saw blade has a desired height or angle, when a fence is in a desired distance from a saw blade, or the like). In a variation of this mechanism, the sound feedback mechanism may emit via a microphone/speaker a series of beeps or other noises to a user that guide the user in the positioning of the tool. For example, the beeps may become louder, more frequent, and/or change in pitch the closer the tool is to the desired position. Alternatively, a user interface of the present invention may provide visual feedback mechanism (not shown) which presents a visual signal on its display. For example, this visual signal may be as simple as a light or other symbol being displayed on the display of the user interface when the tool is in the desired position. In a variation of the visual feedback mechanism, arrows or other visual direction-guiding signals may be presented on the display to guide the user to the desired position of the tool.

A user interface in accordance with the present invention may be coupled with a laser measurement and alignment device. The laser measurement and alignment device may comprise the laser apparatus 100 and computing system 104 shown and described in FIGS. 1 through 46 or may comprise a variety of systems as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The coupling may enable the user interface to be selectively or permanently detached from the laser measurement and alignment device. The user interface may communicate with the laser measurement and alignment device via a physical communication line (such as a cable) or via a wireless signal. It is contemplated that the user interface may couple directly with the laser apparatus 100 or may communicatively couple with the computing system 104 which in turn is coupled with the laser apparatus 100. The communicative coupling may allow the user interface to operatively control the laser apparatus 100 from a remote location. Thus, the user interface may control a power tool, upon which the laser measurement and alignment device is coupled, from a remote location.

In an exemplary embodiment, the interface may include its own power supply so that the interface may transmit signals to the laser measurement and alignment device when detached therefrom. Alternatively, the interface and the laser measurement and alignment device may share a single power source. The power source may be batteries, fuel cells, or the like. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the user interface may include laser sources, similar to those shown and described for the computing system 104. Moreover, the software loaded onto a user interface may be updated through a diskette, a DVD, a CD, the Internet, a network, or the like.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a user interface may include a display which shows exemplary screens 4700 through 5300 shown in FIG. 47 through 53. As shown in FIG. 47 through 53, each screen includes four tabs: a home tab (labeled with a “home” icon), a settings tab (labeled with a “gear” icon), a calibration tab (labeled with a “reversed triangle” icon), and a save tab (labeled with a “diskette” icon). A user may toggle among different screens by touching an appropriate tab.

As shown in FIG. 47, an exemplary home screen 4700 is shown. The screen 4700 shows a distance icon and its corresponding value (“12¼″”), an angle icon and its corresponding value (6.1°), and a height icon and its corresponding value (“1¼″”). From the screen 4700 shown in FIG. 47, when the settings tab is touched, the screen 4700 may be replaced with a settings screen 4800 shown in FIG. 48. The screen 4800 may show information such as the battery status of the user interface or the laser measurement and alignment device, and the like. From the screen 4800 shown in FIG. 48, when the calibration tab is touched, the screen 4800 may be replaced with a calibration screen 4900 shown in FIG. 49. Through the calibration screen 4900, a user may calibrate the laser measurement and alignment device. From the screen 4900 shown in FIG. 49, when the save tab is touched, the screen 4900 may be replaced with a save screen 5000 shown in FIG. 50, through which a user may save a height. FIG. 51 shows an additional exemplary save screen 5100, through which a user may save a distance. FIG. 52 shows a further exemplary save screen 5200, through which a user may save an angle. FIG. 53 shows a still further exemplary save screen 5300, which shows various other exemplary icons (e.g., a speak icon for adjusting the volume of the speaker, and the like).

It is understood that the foregoing-described screens shown in FIGS. 47 through 53 are intended as exemplary only and not as a limitation to the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various combinations and arrangements may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

A user interface coupled with a laser measurement and alignment device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may operate according to a scheme 5400 shown in FIG. 54. As shown in FIG. 54, when a laser measurement and alignment device and a user interface are not attached to a power tool (e.g., a table saw, belt sander, lathe, drill press, nailer, router table, and the like), the laser measurement and alignment device and the user interface may be used to do other measurements unrelated to the power tool or may be recharged. Additionally, the software loaded onto the user interface may be updated. For instance, the user interface may include a disk drive for loading software applications and saving information onto a removeable memory media. Alternatively, the user interface may include a drive for a DVD, a CD-ROM, flash memory devices, and the like, for receiving software updates. When a laser measurement and alignment device and a user interface are attached to a power tool (e.g., a table saw, or the like), the laser measurement and alignment device and the user interface may be used to perform measurements on the power tool. Additionally, the laser measurement and alignment device may be automatically calibrated through the user interface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a user interface may include four operational modes: distance, angle, height, and settings, as shown in FIG. 54.

In a distance mode, a user may set a desired distance, e.g., a distance between a saw blade and fence of a table saw through the user interface. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 54, the user interface in a distance mode may include five options: (1) return to home state; (2) fine adjustment; (3) recall dimension (i.e., recall a previous saved distance); (4) save dimension (i.e., save the current distance); and (5) back one level. Under the fine adjustment option, the user interface may include three options: (1) zero dimension, either absolute or relative; (2) units (fraction, decimal, or metric); and (3) add offset distance.

In an angle mode, a user may set a desired angle, e.g., an angle between a saw blade and a line perpendicular to a table surface of a table saw through the user interface. As shown in FIG. 54, the user interface in an angle mode may include five options: (1) return to home state; (2) fine adjustment; (3) recall angle (i.e., recall a previous saved angle); (4) save dimension (i.e., save the current angle); and (5) back one level. Under the fine adjustment option, the user interface may include two options: (a) zero dimension (either absolute or relative); and (b) compute an angle (a result based on miter and bevel).

In a height mode, a user may set a desired height, e.g., a height of a saw blade over a table surface of a table saw through the user interface. As shown in FIG. 54, the user interface in a height mode may include five options: (1) return to home state (the interface directly returns to a home screen when this option is chosen); (2) fine adjustment; (3) recall dimension (i.e., recall a previous saved height); (4) save dimension (i.e., save the current height); and (5) back one level (the interface goes back one level when this option is chosen). Under the fine adjustment option, the user interface may include two options: (a) zero height (either absolute or relative); and (b) units (fraction, decimal, or metric).

In a settings mode, a user may set desired settings for the user interface. As shown in FIG. 54, the user interface in a settings mode may include five options: (1) return to home state; (2) global units; (3) calibration; (4) system; and (5) back one level. Under the global units option, the user interface may include three options: (a) fraction; (b) decimal; and (c) metric. The default unit may be fraction. Under the fraction unit, a user may choose a resolution such as 1/128, 1/64, 1/32, or the like. Under the decimal unit, a user may choose a resolution such as 0.0, 0.00, 0.000, or the like. Under the calibration option, the user interface may include three options: (a) measurements (distance, angle or height); (b) fence side (either left or right); (c) fence orientation (either horizontal or vertical). Under the system option, the user interface may include three options: (a) sound (either on or off); (b) display (to adjust brightness and contrast of the display); and (c) laser. Under the laser option, the user interface may include three options: (i) on (laser is on for 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, or the like); (ii) off (laser is off); and (iii) sleep mode (laser falls asleep after laser is on for 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, or the like. Additionally, under the system option, a user may update the software loaded onto the user interface.

It is understood that the number of modes and options available under each mode and the variety of operations which may be performed by the user interface may vary without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For instance, other options under the save dimension option, found under the distance mode, angle mode, and height mode, may include: (1) save to diskette, (2) save to CDR, and (3) save to flash media. Additionally, each screen in a particular mode may include an icon for accessing the other modes directly. For example, under the distance mode each screen presented to the user of the user interface may include an icon for the angle mode, height mode, and setting mode. By selecting the individual icon the user may be taken directly to the selected mode and presented with the series of options available under that mode.

FIG. 55 shows an exemplary user interface 5800 with different exemplary screens which may execute the scheme 5400 shown in FIG. 54. FIG. 56 shows the user interface 5800 with an exemplary calibration screen, and FIG. 57 shows the user interface 5800 with an additional exemplary calibration screen. The user interface 5800 will be described in detail along with FIG. 58.

Referring now to FIG. 58, the exemplary user interface 5800 will be described in more detail. The interface 5800 includes a display 5802 and a plurality of user input controls, which are generally indicated at 5804. The display 5802 may be LCD (liquid crystal display), a pixel-based display, or the like. As shown, the controls 5804 include a plurality of push (or enter) buttons 5806, 5808, 5810, 5812 and 5814. The buttons 5806 through 5814 enable a user to toggle between the screens and modes displayable on the display 5802, and to select and input values for any of the available options, as discussed in more detail subsequently. In FIG. 58, the buttons 5806 through 5814 are positioned at the bottom of the interface 5800 and correlate with an option on the display 5802 available for selection by the user. However, the buttons 5806 through 5814 may be positioned anywhere on the interface 5800 as may be contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the buttons 5806 through 5814 are all enter buttons. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that other configurations and numbers of buttons may be used. Similarly, other forms of user input controls may be used, such as slides, track balls, switches, and pointing devices. Of course, although the described user interface is relatively large and complex, it is also possible to provide a much smaller user interface with less information displayed at a time.

FIG. 58 illustrates a default, or home, screen 5816 of the display 5802. This is the screen that is most often displayed to a user, and to which the controller defaults after user inputs are completed on any of the subsequently described screens. As shown, the display 5802 (and hence each screen of the display 5802, including the home screen 5816) includes a battery region 5818, a developer region 5820, a current-screen region 5822, a settings region 5824 and an available-option region 5826.

The battery region 5818 provides a user with information about the status of batteries used to provide power to the laser measurement and alignment device and the user interface 5800. This feature is useful to allow a user to monitor the status of the battery during use. In particular, a user may want to check the remaining battery capacity before starting a project that may require more battery reserve than currently available. As shown, the battery region 5818 includes a small battery icon 5828 and a large battery icon 5830. Each of the icons 5828 and 5830 has incremental bar-graph-like readings representing the theoretical amount of battery life remaining. It is understood other textual or symbolic representations may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The icon 5828 may be used to indicate the status of the battery used to provide power to one of the user interface 5800 and the laser measurement and alignment device (e.g. the user interface 5800), and the icon 5830 may be used to indicate the status of the battery used to provide power to the other of the user interface 5800 and the laser measurement and alignment device (e.g., the laser measurement and alignment device). Alternatively, the battery region 5818 may include a single icon of a battery with incremental bar-graph-like readings representing the theoretical amount of battery life remaining when the battery is used to provide power to both the laser measurement and alignment device and the user interface 5800. It is understood that the battery region 5818 may be positioned on the display 5802 as may be contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

The developer region 5820 provides information about the developer of the user interface 5800. As shown, the user interface 5800 is developed by Delta International Machinery Corp. Alternatively, the developer region 5820 may be not included in the display 5802 at all in order to save space. In another embodiment the developer region 5820 may provide an indication of ownership of the individual user interface. For example, a user may place a specific logo in this region to identify the user interface as their own. It is understood that the location of the developer region on the display 5802 may vary. Further, each user interface may be enabled with a security feature which allows the individual unit to be protected from unauthorized use by another. For example, the security feature may include a user being able to enter a password into the user interface which is required before operation of the user interface will be allowed. It is contemplated that other security features may be incorporated into the present invention as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The current-screen region 5822 is used to show the screen status of the user interface 5800 and will be described in more detail subsequently. As shown in FIG. 58, the current-screen region 5822 of the home screen 5816 is empty. Alternatively, the current-screen region 5822 of the home screen 5816 may include graphic and/or textual representations indicating that the present screen is the home screen.

The settings region 5824 displays information to the user about the current setup of programmed and user-selected modes for the tool (e.g., a table saw, or the like). As shown in FIG. 58, the region 5824 includes at least one mode icon 5832 and its (their) corresponding value(s) 5834. For example, as shown in FIG. 58, three operational mode icons are shown on the home screen 5816, each of which has at least one value. The three illustrated mode icons are distance 5836, angle 5840, and height 5844, each of which having a corresponding value 5838, 5842, and 5846, respectively, and may trigger the display of one or more additional screens, as described in more detail subsequently. It should be understood that the textual names for the modes may be used in place of or in conjunction with the mode icons. Additionally, although FIG. 58 shows a mode icon positioned below its corresponding value, other arrangements may be utilized as may be contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a mode icon (and/or textual name) may be positioned to the left, to the right, or above its corresponding value without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Preferably, the distance value 5838, the angle value 5842, and the height value 5846 in the settings region 5824 are all displayed in a clear fashion to a user so that the user is not confused by the numbers inside these values. Different fonts, sizes, and/or color may be used to distinguish different numbers. It is understood that visual clarity and the ease with which an operator of the user interface can view the information presented on the display 5802 may implicitly establish a preferable range of fonts, sizes, and colors used by the user interface. Further, the amount of information to be presented on each screen of the display 5802 may determine/establish a range of fonts, sizes, and colors to be used. This is another example of the user focus of the present invention, making complex technology available in a simple and effective manner. If a number is presented as an integer plus a fraction, the integer may be preferably presented in a larger font than a numerator and a denominator of the fraction. For example, as shown in FIG. 58, the distance value 5838 is “5¼″” in which the number “5¼′ is an integer “5” plus a fraction “¼”, and the height value is “2 1/16″” in which the number “2 1/16” is an integer “2” plus a fraction “ 1/16”. The integers “5” and “2” are presented in a larger font than the numerator “1” and the denominators “4” and “6” so that a user is not confused by the numbers in the values 5838 and 5846. Moreover, if a value includes a decimal expansion of a number, the decimal digit(s) before the decimal point may be preferably presented in a larger font than the decimal digit(s) after the decimal point. For example, as shown in FIG. 58, the angle value 5842 includes a decimal expansion “5.¹”. The decimal digit “5” before the decimal point is presented in a larger font than the decimal point “1” after the decimal point so that a user is not confused by the numbers in the value 5842. It is understood that other methods as may be contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art may be used to distinguish numbers in a value 5834 so that a user is not confused by those numbers.

For each screen of the display 5802 of the interface 5800, the available-option region 5826 has a plurality of tabs used to show available options a user may have from the current screen. Each of the tabs may use an icon, textual, and/or graphic representation to indicate an option available from the current screen. Each of the tabs is correlated to a user input control (e.g., a button, touch pad, and the like). To choose an option representing a tab, a corresponding user input control may be operated on (e.g., a corresponding button is pushed, or the like). In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 58, each tab is correlated to a button directly below. This correlation of location, establishing a user input control in direct physical proximity to the tab, provides an ease of use of the present invention generally not seen in the art.

On the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58, the available-option region 5826 has five tabs 5848, 5850, 5852, 5854, and 5856, each of them is correlated to a button directly below. It is noted that although each tab on the home screen 5816 as shown in FIG. 58 uses an icon to represent an available option, any of the tabs may alternatively use a textual and/or graphic representation to indicate an available option without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 58, the tab 5848 is labeled with a “home” icon filled with color different from the background, indicating the current screen is the home screen 5816. Moreover, the tab 5848 may be marked differently from the four other tabs (e.g., the tab 5848 in FIG. 58 has no horizontal line above the “home” icon) to indicate that the current screen is the home screen 5816. The tab 5848 is correlated to the button 5806. When the button 5806 is pushed, the home screen 5816 remains (since the current screen is the home screen).

As shown in FIG. 58, the tab 5850 has a “distance” icon representing an option of setting the distance between the saw blade and the fence and is correlated to the button 5808. From the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58, when the button 5808 is pushed, the home screen 5816 is replaced with a distance screen 6300 shown in FIG. 63, and the user interface 5800 enters into a distance mode. The distance screen 6300 may then be replaced with other exemplary screens in a distance mode shown in FIG. 59 and FIGS. 64 through 74 when an appropriate button (or buttons) is pushed.

As shown in FIG. 58, the tab 5852 has an “angle” icon representing an option of setting the angle between the saw blade and a line perpendicular to the surface of the saw table (usually less than 90°) and is correlated to the button 5810. From the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58, when the button 5810 is pushed, the home screen 5816 is replaced with an angle screen 7500 shown in FIG. 75, and the user interface 5800 enters into an angle mode. The angle screen 7500 may then be replaced with other exemplary screens in an angle mode shown in FIG. 60 and FIGS. 76 through 83 when an appropriate button (or buttons) is pushed.

As shown in FIG. 58, the tab 5854 has a “height” icon representing an option of setting the height of the saw blade over the saw table surface and is correlated to the button 5812. From the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58, when the button 5812 is pushed, the home screen 5816 is replaced with a height screen 8400 shown in FIG. 84, and the user interface 5800 enters into a height mode. The height screen 6300 may then be replaced with other exemplary screens in a height mode shown in FIG. 61 and FIGS. 85 through 94 when an appropriate button (or buttons) is pushed.

As shown in FIG. 58, the tab 5856 has a “gear” icon representing an option of adjusting the settings of the graphic user interface 5800 and/or the laser measurement and alignment device and is correlated to the button 5814. From the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58, when the button 5814 is pushed, the home screen 5816 is replaced with a settings screen 9500 shown in FIG. 95, and the user interface 5800 enters into a settings mode. The settings screen 9500 may then be replaced with other exemplary screens in a settings mode shown in FIG. 62 and FIGS. 96 through 101 when an appropriate button (or buttons) is pushed.

The focus of the user interface is to provide a system which enables complex operations through an easy to use controller. In order to accomplish this goal the present invention has employed the standard of logically relating the folders which contain the various operational functions enabled by the user interface. For instance, after the user interface is calibrated a home screen 5816 provides access to distance mode FIGS. 63 through 74, angle mode FIGS. 75 through 83, height mode FIGS. 84 through 94, and settings mode FIGS. 95 through 101. When one of the modes is selected it provides access to the relevant operations pertaining to that mode in a clear and concise manner. Thus, the navigation through the complex user interface is made simple and provides a smooth flow of operation.

Referring generally now to FIGS. 63 through 74, various exemplary screens 6300 through 7400 of the display 5802 of the user interface 5800 in a distance mode are shown. Referring to FIG. 63, the distance screen 6300 is similar to the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. However, in its settings region 5824 the distance screen 6300 shows the distance mode icon 5836 and its corresponding value 5838 only. In a preferred embodiment, when the user interface 5800 is in a distance mode, only the distance mode icon 5836 and its corresponding value 5838 are shown in the settings region 5824 (see, e.g., FIGS. 63 through 74). Preferably, a user sets only a desired distance between a saw blade and a fence of a table saw through the user interface 5800 when the user interface 5800 is in a distance mode. Because a user does not set an angle or a blade height in a distance mode, the angle and the height mode icons 5840, 5844 and their corresponding values 5842, 5846 do not need to be displayed on the screen in order to save battery power. Moreover, a screen in a distance mode showing only the distance mode icon 5836 and its corresponding value 5838 in the settings region 5824 may help a user to focus attention on setting the distance.

As shown in FIG. 63, the distance screen 6300 has in its available-option region 5826 five tabs 6302, 6304, 6306, 6308, and 6310 different from the five tabs shown in FIG. 58. The tab 6302 has a “home” icon unfilled with color representing an option of “returning to home directly” and is correlated to the button 5806 directly below. When the button 5806 is pushed, the distance screen 6300 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. The tab 6304 represents an option of “fine adjustment” and is correlated to the button 5808 directly below. The tab 6306 represents an option of “recall” and is correlated to the button 5810 directly below. The tab 6308 has a “diskette” icon representing an option of “save” and is correlated to the button 5812 directly below. As mentioned previously, it is contemplated that other removable memory media may be employed with the present invention, such as a DVD, CDR, flash media device, and the like. Therefore, the “diskette” icon may be altered to provide an alternative image more directly reflecting the current memory media being employed. Further, it is understood that the user interface may incorporate the usage of more than one type of memory media and thus include multiple memory media drives.

The tab 6310 has a “back arrow” icon representing an option of “back one level” and is correlated to the button 5814 directly below. That is, when the button 5814 is pushed, the interface 5800 goes back one level and the distance screen 6300 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58.

From the distance screen 6300 shown in FIG. 63, when the button 5808 is pushed, the distance screen 6300 is replaced with a distance fine adjustment screen 6400 shown in FIG. 64. As shown, the screen 6400 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a textual representation “Fine Adjust”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for fine adjustment of a distance. The screen 6400 has five tabs: the tabs 6302 and 6310 (as shown in FIG. 63), a tab 6402 for a “Zero” option correlated to the button 5808, a tab 6404 for “Units” option correlated to the button 5810, and a tab 6406 for “Offset” option correlated to the button 5812. When the tab 6302 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5806) from the screen 6400, the interface 5800 directly returns to home and the screen 6400 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. When the tab 6310 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5814) from the screen 6400, the interface 5800 goes back one level and the screen 6400 is replaced with the distance screen 6300 shown in FIG. 63.

When the “Zero” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5808) from the screen 6400, the screen 6400 is replaced with a distance relative zero screen 6500 shown in FIG. 65. As shown in FIG. 65, the screen 6500 has in its current-screen region 5822 a word “Zero”, indicating the current screen 6500 is a distance zero screen. Additionally, the screen 6500 has in its settings region 5824 a letter “R”, indicating that the current screen 6500 is a distance relative zero screen. This is further shown by different representations of two new tabs 6502 and 6504 on the screen 6500, where the tab 6504 representing a distance relative zero option does not have a horizontal line above the word “Relative”, indicating the distance relative zero option is chosen. Using the buttons 5808 and 5810, a user may toggle between the distance relative zero screen 6500 shown in FIG. 65 and a distance absolute zero screen (not shown).

When the “Units” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5810) from the screen 6400, the screen 6400 is replaced with a default distance units screen 6600 shown in FIG. 66. As shown in FIG. 66, the screen 6600 has in its current-screen region 5822 a distance icon and a word “Units”, indicating the current screen 6600 is a distance units screen. The screen 6600 includes three new tabs 6602 (Frac), 6604 (Dec) and 6606 (mm), which represent a fraction unit option, a decimal unit option, and a metric unit option, respectively. The tab 6602 representing a fraction unit option does not have a horizontal line above “Frac”, indicating the fraction unit option is chosen. As a result of this option, the number in the distance value 5838 is displayed in a format of “integer+fraction” (see, e.g., “5¼” in FIG. 66).

From the screen 6600 shown in FIG. 66, when the button 5810 is pushed, the screen 6600 is replaced with a distance decimal unit screen 6700 shown in FIG. 67. As shown in FIG. 67, the screen 6700 has in its current-screen region 5822 a distance icon and words “Dec Units”, indicating the current screen 6700 is a distance decimal units screen. The tab 6604 representing a decimal unit option does not have a horizontal line above “Dec”, indicating the decimal unit option is chosen. As a result of this option, the number in the distance value 5838 is displayed in a format of a decimal expansion (see, e.g., “5.²⁵” in FIG. 67). Using the buttons 5808, 5810, and 5812, a user may toggle among the default distance units (in fraction units) screen 6600 shown in FIG. 66, the distance decimal units screen 6700 shown in FIG. 67, and a distance metric unit screen (not shown).

When the “Offset” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5812) from the screen 6400 shown in FIG. 64, the screen 6400 is replaced with a distance offset screen 6800 shown in FIG. 68. As shown in FIG. 68, the screen 6800 has in its current-screen region 5822 a word “Offset”, indicating the current screen 6800 is a distance offset screen. The screen 6800 includes a new tab 6802 (Set), representing an option of adding an offset distance.

From the distance screen 6300 shown in FIG. 63, when the button 5810 is pushed, the distance screen 6300 is replaced with a distance recall screen 6900 shown in FIG. 69. As shown, the screen 6900 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a textual representation “Recall”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for recalling a saved distance. There may exist at least one saved distance value in a memory of the user interface 5800 or a memory of the laser measurement and alignment device communicatively coupled to the user interface 5800. Each saved distance value may have a label number such as 1, 2, 3, etc. For example, the screen 6900 shows a value 5838 (“5¼″”) in its settings region 5824. The number “1” to the left of “5¼″” indicates that the label number for “5¼″” is “1”. The screen 6900 includes two new tabs: a tab 6902 for a “+” option of moving to a saved distance value with a higher label number than that shown on the current screen, and a tab 6904 for a “−” option of moving to a saved distance value with a lower label number than that shown on the current screen. For example, from the screen 6900 shown in FIG. 69, when the “+” option (the tab 6902) is chosen, the screen 6900 is replaced with a screen 7000 shown in FIG. 70, where a saved distance value with a higher label number “2” (“2 3/64″”) is shown. Additionally, from the screen 6900 shown in FIG. 69, when the “+” option is repeatedly chosen several times (e.g., by pushing the button 5808 several times), the screen 6900 may be replaced with a screen 7100 shown in FIG. 71, where a saved distance value with a higher label number “9” (“12⅞″”) is shown. From the screen 7100 shown in FIG. 71, when the “−” option (the tab 6904) is chosen, the screen 7100 is replaced with a screen 7200 shown in FIG. 72, where a saved distance value with a lower label number “8” (“3⅜″”) is shown.

From the distance screen 6300 shown in FIG. 63, when the button-5812 is pushed, the distance screen 6300 may be replaced with a distance save screen 7300 shown in FIG. 73. As shown, the screen 7300 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a diskette icon and a textual representation “Save”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for saving a distance value. The screen 7300 includes a “diskette” tab 7302, representing an option of saving the current value 5838 (“6½″”). When the tab 7302 is chosen from the screen 7300, the screen 7300 is replaced with the screen 7400 shown in FIG. 74, where the value “6½″” is given a label number (e.g., “11” shown in FIG. 74) and may be saved into a memory of the user interface 5800 or a memory of the laser measurement and alignment device communicatively coupled to the user interface 5800.

It is contemplated that an operator of the user interface may input changes to the distance settings directly. For example, under the distance fine adjustment screen an alternative user input control mode may be included which allows the user to directly affect changes in the distance settings. The user may be enabled to make corrections to the distance in incremental amounts, such as ½ inch or ¼ inch, 0.1″ or 0.01″, or 10 mm or 5 mm. The user interface may provide “+” and “−” tabs correlated to user input control buttons which allow for this type of adjustment. The direct change of distance setting may be configured in a variety of ways and be within various locations of the height mode as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring generally now to FIGS. 75 through 83, various exemplary screens 7500 through 8300 of the display 5802 of the user interface 5800 in an angle mode are shown. Referring to FIG. 75, the angle screen 7500 is similar to the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. However, in its settings region 5824 the angle screen 7500 shows the distance mode icon 5840 and its corresponding value 5842 only. In a preferred embodiment, when the user interface 5800 is in an angle mode, only the angle mode icon 5840 and its corresponding value 5842 are shown in the settings region 5824 (see, e.g., FIGS. 75 through 83). Preferably, a user sets only a desired angle between a saw blade and a line perpendicular to the table surface of a table saw through the user interface 5800 when the user interface 5800 is in an angle mode. Because a user does not set a distance or a blade height in an angle mode, the distance and the height mode icons 5836, 5844 and their corresponding values 5838, 5846 do not need to be displayed on the screen in order to save battery power. Moreover, a screen in an angle mode showing only the angle mode icon 5840 and its corresponding value 5842 in the settings region 5824 may help a user to focus attention on setting the angle.

As shown in FIG. 75, the angle screen 7500 shows in its current-screen region 5822 an angle icon and a textual representation “Angle”, indicating to a user that the current screen is in an angle mode. As shown, the screen 7500 has in its available-option region 5826 five tabs 6302, 6304, 6306, 6308, and 6310 different from the five tabs shown in FIG. 58. The tab 6302 has a “home” icon unfilled with color representing an option of “returning to home directly” and is correlated to the button 5806 directly below. When the button 5806 is pushed, the angle screen 7500 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. The tab 6304 represents an option of “fine adjustment” and is correlated to the button 5808 directly below. The tab 6306 represents an option of “recall” and is correlated to the button 5810 directly below. The tab 6308 has a “diskette” icon representing an option of “save” and is correlated to the button 5812 directly below. The tab 6310 has a “back arrow” icon representing an option of “back one level” and is correlated to the button 5814 directly below. That is, when the button 5814 is pushed, the interface 5800 goes back one level and the angle screen 7500 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58.

From the angle screen 7500 shown in FIG. 75, when the button 5808 is pushed, the angle screen 7500 is replaced with an angle fine adjustment screen 7600 shown in FIG. 76. As shown, the screen 7600 shows in its current-screen region 5822 an angle icon and a textual representation “Fine Adjust”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for fine adjustment of an angle. The screen 7600 includes three tabs: the tabs 6302 and 6310 (as shown in FIG. 75), and a tab 6402 for a “Zero” option correlated to the button 5808. When the tab 6302 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5806) from the screen 7600, the interface 5800 directly returns to home and the screen 7600 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. When the tab 6310 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5814) from the screen 7600, the interface 5800 goes back one level and the screen 7600 is replaced with the angle screen 7500 shown in FIG. 75.

When the “Zero” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5808) from the screen 7600 shown in FIG. 76, the screen 7600 is replaced with an angle zero screen 7700 shown in FIG. 77. As shown in FIG. 77, the screen 7700 has in its current-screen region 5822 an angle icon and a word “Zero”, indicating the current screen 7700 is an angle zero screen. The screen 7700 includes two new tabs: a tab 7702 representing an angle absolute zero option, and a tab 7704 representing an angle relative zero option. When the tab 7704 option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5810) from the screen 7700 shown in FIG. 77, the screen 7700 is replaced with an angle relative zero screen 7800 shown in FIG. 78. As shown in FIG. 78, the screen 7800 has in its current-screen region 5822 an angle icon and a word “Relative”, indicating the current screen 7800 is an angle relative zero screen. Using the buttons 5808 and 5810, a user may toggle between the angle relative zero screen 7800 shown in FIG. 78 and the angle zero screen 7700 shown in FIG. 77.

From the angle screen 7500 shown in FIG. 75, when the button 5810 is pushed, the angle screen 7500 is replaced with an angle recall screen 7900 shown in FIG. 79. As shown, the screen 7900 shows in its current-screen region 5822 an angle icon and a textual representation “Recall”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for recalling a saved angle. There may exist at least one saved angle value in a memory of the user interface 5800 or a memory of the laser measurement and alignment device communicatively coupled to the user interface 5800. Each saved angle value may have a label number such as 1, 2, 3, etc. For example, the screen 7900 shows a value 5842 (“15.1°”) in its settings region 5824. The number “2” to the left of “15.1°” indicates that the label number for “15.1°” is “2”. The screen 7900 includes two new tabs: a tab 7902 for a “+” option of moving to a saved angle value with a higher label number than that shown on the current screen, and a tab 7904 for a “−” option of moving to a saved angle value with a lower label number than that shown on the current screen. For example, from the screen 7900 shown in FIG. 79, when the “+” option (the tab 7902) is chosen (several times), the screen 7900 may be replaced with a screen 8000 shown in FIG. 80, where a saved angle value with a label number “5” (“30.0°”) is shown. Additionally, from the screen 7900 shown in FIG. 79, when the “−” option (the tab 7904) is chosen, the screen 7900 may be replaced with a screen 8100 shown in FIG. 81, where a saved angle value with a lower label number “1” (“7.5°”) is shown.

From the angle screen 7500 shown in FIG. 75, when the button 5812 is pushed, the angle screen 7500 is replaced with an angle save screen 8200 shown in FIG. 82. As shown, the screen 8200 shows in its current-screen region 5822 an angle icon and a textual representation “Save”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for saving an angle value. The screen 8200 includes a “diskette” tab 8202, representing an option of saving the current value 5842 (“41.0°”). As mentioned previously, it is contemplated that other removable memory media may be employed with the present invention, such as a DVD, CDR, flash media device, and the like. Therefore, the “diskette” icon may be altered to provide an alternative image more directly reflecting the current memory media being employed. Further, it is understood that the user interface may incorporate the usage of more than one type of memory media and thus include multiple memory media drives.

When the tab 8202 is chosen from the screen 8200, the screen 8200 is replaced with a screen 8300 shown in FIG. 83, where the value “41.0°” is given a label number (e.g., “9” shown in FIG. 83) and may be saved into a memory of the user interface 5800 or a memory of the laser measurement and alignment device communicatively coupled to the user interface 5800.

It is contemplated that an operator of the user interface may input changes to the angle settings directly. For example, under the angle fine adjustment screen an alternative user input control mode may be included which allows the user to directly affect changes in the angle settings. The user may be enabled to make corrections to the angle in incremental amounts, such as 0.5 degrees or 1 degree. The user interface may provide “+” and “−” tabs correlated to user input control buttons which allow for this type of adjustment. The direct change of angle setting may be configured in a variety of ways and be within various locations of the angle mode as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring generally now to FIGS. 84 through 94, various exemplary screens 8400 through 9400 of the display 5802 of the user interface 5800 in a height mode are shown. Referring to FIG. 84, the height screen 8400 is similar to the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. However, in its settings region 5824 the height screen 8400 shows the height mode icon 5844 and its corresponding value 5846 only. In a preferred embodiment, when the user interface 5800 is in a height mode, only the height mode icon 5844 and its corresponding value 5846 are shown in the settings region 5824 (see, e.g., FIGS. 84 through 94). Preferably, a user sets only a desired height of a saw blade over a table surface of a table saw through the user interface 5800 when the user interface 5800 is in a height mode. Because a user does not set a distance or an angle in a height mode, the distance and angle mode icons 5836, 5840 and their corresponding values 5838, 5842 do not need to be displayed on the screen in order to save battery power. Moreover, a screen in a distance mode showing only the height mode icon 5844 and its corresponding value 5846 in the settings region 5824 may help a user to focus attention on setting the distance.

As shown in FIG. 84, the height screen 8400 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a height icon and a textual representation “Height”, indicating to a user that the current screen is in a height mode. As shown, the height screen 8400 has in its available-option region 5826 five tabs 6302, 6304, 6306, 6308, and 6310 different from the five tabs shown in FIG. 58. The tab 6302 has a “home” icon unfilled with color representing an option of “returning to home directly” and is correlated to the button 5806 directly below. When the button 5806 is pushed, the distance screen 6300 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. The tab 6304 represents an option of “fine adjustment” and is correlated to the button 5808 directly below. The tab 6306 represents an option of “recall” and is correlated to the button 5810 directly below. The tab 6308 has a “diskette” icon representing an option of “save” and is correlated to the button 5812 directly below. The tab 6310 has a “back arrow” icon representing an option of “back one level” and is correlated to the button 5814 directly below. That is, when the button 5814 is pushed, the interface 5800 goes back one level and the distance screen 8400 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58.

From the height screen 8400 shown in FIG. 84, when the button 5808 is pushed, the height screen 8400 is replaced with a height fine adjustment screen 8500 shown in FIG. 85. As shown, the screen 8500 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a height icon and a textual representation “Fine Adjust”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for fine adjustment of a height. The screen 8500 has five tabs: the tabs 6302 and 6310 (as shown in FIG. 84), a tab 8502 for a “Zero” option correlated to the button 5808, a tab 8504 for “Units” option correlated to the button 5810, and a tab 8506 for “Offset” option correlated to the button 5812. When the tab 6302 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5806) from the screen 8500, the interface 5800 directly returns to home and the screen 8500 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. When the tab 6310 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5814) from the screen 8500, the interface 5800 goes back one level and the screen 8500 is replaced with the height screen 8400 shown in FIG. 84.

When the “Zero” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5808) from the screen 8500, the screen 8500 is replaced with a height absolute zero screen 8600 shown in FIG. 86. As shown in FIG. 86, the screen 8600 has in its current-screen region 5822 a height icon and a word “Zero”, indicating the current screen 8600 is a height zero screen. Additionally, the screen 8600 has in its settings region 5824 a letter “A”, indicating that the current screen 8600 is a height absolute zero screen. This is further shown by different representations of two new tabs 8602 and 8604 on the screen 8600, where the tab 8602 representing a height absolute zero option does not have a horizontal line above the word “Absolute”, indicating the height absolute zero option is chosen. Using the buttons 5808 and 5810, a user may toggle between the height absolute zero screen 8500 shown in FIG. 85 and a height relative zero screen (not shown).

When the “Units” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5810) from the screen 8500, the screen 8500 is replaced with a default height units screen 8700 shown in FIG. 87. As shown in FIG. 87, the screen 8700 has in its current-screen region 5822 a height icon and a word “Units”, indicating the current screen 8700 is a height units screen. The screen 8700 includes three new tabs 8702 (Frac), 8704 (Dec) and 8706 (mm), which represent a fraction unit option, a decimal unit option, and a metric unit option, respectively. The tab 8702 representing a fraction unit option does not have a horizontal line above “Frac”, indicating the fraction unit option is chosen. As a result of this option, the number in the height value 5846 is displayed in a format of “integer+fraction” (see, e.g., “2 1/16” in FIG. 87).

From the screen 8700 shown in FIG. 87, when the button 5810 is pushed, the screen 8700 may be replaced with a height decimal unit screen 8800 shown in FIG. 88. As shown in FIG. 88, the tab 8704 representing a decimal unit option does not have a horizontal line above “Dec”, indicating the decimal unit option is chosen. As a result of this option, the number in the distance value 5838 is displayed in a format of a decimal expansion (see, e.g., “5.²⁵” in FIG. 88). Using the buttons 5808, 5810, and 5812, a user may toggle among the default height units (in fraction units) screen 8700 shown in FIG. 87, the height decimal units screen 8800 shown in FIG. 88, and a height metric unit screen (not shown).

When the “Offset” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5812) from the screen 8500 shown in FIG. 85, the screen 8500 is replaced with a height offset screen 8900 shown in FIG. 89. As shown in FIG. 89, the screen 8900 has in its current-screen region 5822 a height icon and a word “Offset”, indicating the current screen 8900 is a height offset screen. Through the screen 8900, a user may add an offset height.

From the height screen 8400 shown in FIG. 84, when the button 5810 is pushed (and possibly after some other manipulations of the user interface controls 5804), the height screen 8400 may be replaced with a height recall screen 9000 shown in FIG. 90. As shown, the screen 9000 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a height icon and a textual representation “Recall”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for recalling a saved height. There may exist at least one saved height value in a memory of the user interface 5800 or a memory of the laser measurement and alignment device communicatively coupled to the user interface 5800. Each saved height value may have a label number such as 1, 2, 3, etc. For example, the screen 9000 shows a value 5846 (“2 1/16″”) in its settings region 5824. The number “16” to the left of “2 1/16″” indicates that the label number for “2 1/16″” is “16”. The screen 9000 includes two new tabs: a tab 9002 for a “+” option of moving to a saved height value with a higher label number than that shown on the current screen, and a tab 9004 for a “−” option of moving to a saved height value with a lower label number than that shown on the current screen. For example, from the screen 9000 shown in FIG. 90, when the “−” option (the tab 9004) is chosen repeatedly, the screen 9000 may be replaced with a screen 9100 shown in FIG. 91, where a saved height value with a lower label number “5” (“2¾″”) is shown. Additionally, from the screen 9000 shown in FIG. 90, when the “+” option (the tab 9002) is chosen repeatedly, the screen 9000 may be replaced with a screen 9200 shown in FIG. 92, where a saved height value with a higher label number “21” (“1 1/64″”) is shown.

From the height screen 8400 shown in FIG. 84, when the button 5812 is pushed, the height screen 8400 may be replaced with a height save screen 9300 shown in FIG. 93. As shown, the screen 9300 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a height icon and a textual representation “Save”, indicating to a user that the current screen is for saving a height value. The screen 9300 includes a “diskette” tab 9302, representing an option of saving the current value 5846 (“2 1/16″”). When the tab 9302 is chosen from the screen 9300, the current value “2 1/16″” may be given a label number and may be saved into a memory of the user interface 5800 or a memory of the laser measurement and alignment device communicatively coupled to the user interface 5800. As mentioned previously, it is contemplated that other removable memory media may be employed with the present invention, such as a DVD, CDR, flash media device, and the like. Therefore, the “diskette” icon may be altered to provide an alternative image more directly reflecting the current memory media being employed. Further, it is understood that the user interface may incorporate the usage of more than one type of memory media and thus include multiple memory media drives.

FIG. 94 shows another exemplary height save screen 9400, where a current value “⅝″” is given a label number (“12”) and may be saved into a memory of the user interface 5800 or a memory of the laser measurement and alignment device communicatively coupled to the user interface 5800.

It is contemplated that an operator of the user interface may input changes to the height settings directly. For example, under the height fine adjustment screen an alternative user input control mode may be included which allows the user to directly affect changes in the height settings. The user may be enabled to make corrections to the height in incremental amounts, such as ½ inch or ¼ inch, 0.1″ or 0.01,5 mm or 10 mm. The user interface may provide “+” and “−” tabs correlated to user input control buttons which allow for this type of adjustment. The direct change of height setting may be configured in a variety of ways and be within various locations of the height mode as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring generally now to FIGS. 95 through 101, various exemplary screens 9500 through 10100 of the display 5802 of the user interface 5800 in a settings mode are shown. Referring to FIG. 95, the settings screen 9500 shows in its current-screen region 5822 a settings icon and a textual representation “Settings”, indicating to a user that the current screen is in a settings mode. As shown, the settings screen 9500 has in its available-option region 5826 five tabs 6302, 9502, 9504, 9506, and 6310 different from the five tabs shown in FIG. 58. The tab 6302 has a “home” icon unfilled with color representing an option of “returning to home directly” and is correlated to the button 5806 directly below. When the button 5806 is pushed, the settings screen 9500 is replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58. The tab 9502 represents an option of “(global) Units” and is correlated to the button 5808 directly below. The tab 9504 represents an option of “Calibration” and is correlated to the button 5810 directly below. The tab 9506 represents an option of “System” and is correlated to the button 5812 directly below. The tab 6310 has a “back arrow” icon representing an option of “back one level” and is correlated to the button 5814 directly below. That is, when the button 5814 is pushed, the interface 5800 goes back one level and the settings screen 9500 may be replaced with the home screen 5816 shown in FIG. 58.

From the settings screen 9500 shown in FIG. 95, when the “Units” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5808), the screen 9500 may be replaced with a default global units screen (see, e.g., 9600 shown in FIG. 96). As shown in FIG. 96, the screen 9600 has in its current-screen region 5822 a settings icon and a textual representation “Global Units”, indicating the current screen 9600 is a global units screen. The screen 9600 includes three new tabs 9602 (Frac), 9604 (Dec) and 9606 (mm), which represent a global fraction unit option, a global decimal unit option, and a global metric unit option, respectively, for both a distance value 5838 and a height value 5846. The tab 9602 representing a global fraction unit option does not have a horizontal line above “Frac”, indicating the fraction unit option is chosen. As a result of choosing this option, the number in a distance value 5838 (and/or a height value 5846) is displayed in a format of “integer+fraction” (see, e.g., “ 1/16” for a distance value 5838 in FIG. 96, where the integer is not shown because the integer is zero).

From the screen 9600 shown in FIG. 96, when the button 5812 is pushed, the screen 9600 may be replaced with a global metric units screen (see, e.g., 9700 shown in FIG. 97). As shown in FIG. 97, the tab 9606 representing a global metric unit option does not have a horizontal line above “mm”, indicating the global metric unit option is chosen. As a result of this option, a distance value 5838 (and/or a height value 5846) is displayed in a metric unit (see, e.g., “1.58 mm” in FIG. 97, where mm is millimeter). Using the buttons 5808, 5810, and 5812, a user may toggle among a default global units (in fraction units) screen (see, e.g., 9600 shown in FIG. 96), a global metric units screen (see, e.g., 9700 shown in FIG. 97), and a global decimal units screen (not shown).

When the “Calibration” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5810) from the screen 9500 shown in FIG. 95, the screen 9500 may be replaced with a calibration screen (see, e.g., 5600 shown in FIG. 56, and 5700 shown FIG. 57). Through a calibration screen, a user may perform all kinds of calibrations to a height, an angle, and a distance. Additionally, the user interface 5800 may have a drop-down menu (not shown) on the display 5802 to enable a user to select a calibration parameter from the drop-down menu. For example, a drop-down menu may provide kerf information for various kinds of saw blades, fence orientation information (horizontal or vertical), fence type (Unifense, Biesemeyer fence, or the like). Additionally, a saw blade may have a bar code or a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) number attached to the saw blade body. When a saw blade is scanned by a bar code scanner or a RFID scanner, as the laser source employed by the present invention may be (shown and described previously in FIGS. 15 through 19), the relevant information (e.g., kerf, and the like) may be automatically entered into the user interface 5800 to enable the user interface 5800 to perform the calibration automatically.

From the settings screen 9500 shown in FIG. 95, when the “System” option is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5812), the screen 9500 may be replaced with a system screen (see, e.g., 9800 shown in FIG. 98). As shown in FIG. 98, the screen 9800 has in its current-screen region 5822 a settings icon and a textual representation “System”, indicating the current screen 9800 is a system screen. The screen 9800 includes three new tabs 9802, 9804 and 9806, which represent a sound option, a brightness option, and a laser time out option, respectively.

From the system screen 9800 shown in FIG. 98, when the tab 9802 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5808), the screen 9800 may be replaced with a sound screen (see, e.g., 9900 shown in FIG. 99). As shown in FIG. 99, the screen 9900 has in its current-screen region 5822 a sound icon and a textual representation “Sound”, indicating the current screen 9900 is a sound screen. The screen 9900 includes two new tabs 9902 (“+”) and 9904 (“−”), which represent an option of increasing a sound volume and an option of decreasing a sound volume, respectively. The screen 9900 includes a bar-type scale 9906 showing the current scale of the volume being ”5”. By pushing the button 5808 from the screen 9900, the tab 9902 is chosen and the sound volume is increased to a scale larger than “5”. By pushing the button 5810 from the screen 9900, the tab 9904 is chosen and the sound volume is decreased to a scale smaller than “5”. When the scale is decreased to zero (“0”), the sound is turned off.

The sound feedback mechanism provided by the user interface 5800 presents an audible signal to a user when a tool is in the selected position (e.g., when a saw blade has a desired height or angle, when a fence is in a desired distance from a saw blade, or the like). In a variation of this mechanism, the sound feedback mechanism may emit via a microphone/speaker a series of beeps or other noises to a user that guide the user in the positioning of the tool. For example, the beeps may become louder, more frequent, and/or change in pitch the closer the tool is to the desired position.

Alternatively, the user interface 5800 may provide visual feedback mechanism (not shown) which presents a visual signal on its display 5802. For example, this visual signal may be as simple as a light or other symbol being displayed on the display 5802 when the tool is in the desired position. In a variation of the visual feedback mechanism, arrows or other visual direction-guiding signals may be presented on the display 5802 to guide the user to the desired position of the tool.

From the system screen 9800 shown in FIG. 98, when the tab 9804 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5810), the screen 9800 may be replaced with a brightness screen (see, e.g., 10000 shown in FIG. 100). As shown in FIG. 100, the screen 10000 has in its current-screen region 5822 a brightness icon and a textual representation “Brightness”, indicating the current screen 10000 is a brightness screen. The screen 10000 includes two new tabs 10002 (“+”) and 10004 (“−”), which represent an option of increasing screen brightness and an option of decreasing screen brightness, respectively. The screen 10000 includes a bar-type scale 10006 showing the current brightness scale being “8”. By pushing the button 5808 from the screen 10000, the tab 10002 is chosen and the screen brightness is increased to a scale larger than “8”. By pushing the button 5810 from the screen 10000, the tab 10004 is chosen and the screen brightness is decreased to a scale smaller than “8”.

From the system screen 9800 shown in FIG. 98, when the tab 9806 is chosen (e.g., by pushing the button 5812), the screen 9800 may be replaced with a laser time out screen (see, e.g., 10100 shown in FIG. 101). As shown in FIG. 101, the screen 10100 has in its current-screen region 5822 a laser time out icon and a textual representation “Laser Time Out”, indicating the current screen 10100 is a laser time out screen. The screen 10100 includes two new tabs 10102 (“+”) and 10104 (“−”), which represent an option of increasing a time period for laser time out and an option of decreasing a time period for laser time out, respectively. The screen 10100 includes a bar-type scale 10106 showing three time periods for laser time out: 10 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds. The current time period for laser time out is shown to be “30 seconds” in FIG. 101. That is, the laser measurement and alignment device will be turned off after it is on for 30 seconds. By pushing the button 5808 from the screen 10100, the tab 10102 is chosen and the time period for laser time out is increased to “60 seconds”. By pushing the button 5810 from the screen 10100, the tab 10104 is chosen and the time period for laser time out is decreased to “10 seconds”. An alternative embodiment of the bar-type scale 10106 is shown in 10100 of FIG. 62, where the current time period for laser time out is shown to be “10 seconds”, and a user may use the button 5808 to increase this time period and may use the button 5810 to decrease this time period.

It is understood that the foregoing-described screens shown in FIGS. 55 through 101 are intended as exemplary only and not as a limitation to the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various combinations and arrangements may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Referring generally to FIGS. 102 through 143, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. A nail gun 100 including a stud finder laser indicator assembly 102, is shown in FIGS. 102 through 104. In the preferred embodiment, the stud finder laser indicator assembly 102 includes a housing 104 which encompasses a laser indicator assembly 106 and a stud finder detector assembly 108. The housing 104 is enabled to couple with a nose casting assembly 110. The nose casting assembly 110 couples with a nail magazine 103 and a casing 105, the casing 105 housing a nail driving assembly. The casing 105 further couples with a handle 107 which couples with the nail magazine 103. A trigger 109 is operationally coupled with the nail driving assembly. In the present embodiment, the coupling of the stud finder laser indicator assembly 102 with the nose casing assembly 110 occurs through a mounting member 111 coupled with the housing 104. The mounting member is a slide and latch mechanism although it is understood that the coupling may occur by various mechanisms as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The stud finder laser indicator assembly 102 is enabled to detect the presence of a stud behind a first surface and then indicate its location by establishing a laser indicator/marker upon the first surface. The laser indicator may take a variety of forms, such as a point of light, a cross-hair configuration, a line configuration, and the like.

In FIG. 104, an alternative embodiment of the stud finder laser indicator assembly 102, is shown. In this embodiment the assembly 102 further comprises a second indicator assembly 112, which is a light emitting diode that provides a secondary visual indicator to the user of the present invention when a stud has been detected and located. It is understood that the second indicator assembly may take a variety of forms without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, the second indicator assembly may be a series of light emitting diodes. Alternatively, the second indicator assembly may provide an audio signal when the stud is detected and/or located. Further, the stud finder laser indicator assembly 102 of FIG. 104 includes a selector assembly 114. The selector assembly 114 comprises a multiple position switch 116. The selector assembly 114 enables the user of the assembly 102 to selectively determine its operation. For instance, the user may prefer not to use the assembly 102 for a particular task and may position the selector assembly 114 in a position which disables the assembly 102. The selector assembly 114 may enable the multiple position switch 116 with two or more positions for enabling the assembly 102 to accomplish a variety of tasks. The mounting member 111 has been reconfigured as a slide adapter for coupling with the nose casting assembly 110 which includes a slide 118

Referring now to FIG. 105, a nail gun 1050, similar to that shown and described in FIGS. 102 through 104, comprises a laser indicator assembly 1052 coupled with a nose casting assembly 1054. In this preferred embodiment, the laser indicator assembly 1052 is employed by the user of the nail gun 1050 to establish a visual indicator/marker on a first surface 1056. The visual marker is used by the operator of the nail gun 1050 to establish where the next nail is to be driven. In the present embodiment, this is accomplished by the laser indicator assembly 1052 establishing a laser line on the first surface 1056. The laser line coincides with the position of a stud 1058 behind the first surface 1056. It is understood that the operator of the nail gun 1050 may employ the nail gun 1050 simply as a tool to provide a point of reference for where the next nail will be driven.

In FIGS. 106 through 110, a nail gun 1060, similar to that shown and described in FIGS. 102 through 104, includes a stud finder detector assembly 1061 coupled with a nose casting assembly 1062. The stud finder detector assembly 1061 establishes the presence and location of a stud 1063 behind a first surface 1064. In the present embodiment, the stud finder detector assembly 1061 further includes a visual indication assembly 1065, which is a light emitting diode. The light emitting diode provides a visually detectable signal for the user of the nail gun 1060 when the stud 1063 is found.

It is contemplated that the stud finder laser indicator assembly and stud finder detector assembly, referred to in FIGS. 102 through 143, may use various technologies for determining the presence and location of a stud behind a first surface. Relevant technologies may include, radar, sonar, radio frequency, electrical sensing devices, and the like.

FIG. 107 indicates the use of a slide and latch mechanism for coupling a stud finder detector assembly 1070, similar to that shown and described in FIG. 106, to a nose casting assembly 1071. A slide mounting member 1072 is coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1070 and engages with a slide adapter receiver assembly 1073. A latch 1074, disposed on the nose casting assembly 1071 engages with the stud finder detector assembly 1070 when proper engagement has been established. Alternative coupling mechanisms may be employed, such as a compression lock system, to affix the stud finder detector assembly to the nose casting assembly. Powering a stud finder detector assembly 1080 may be accomplished through a variety of ways as shown in FIGS. 108 and 109. FIG. 108 shows the stud finder detector assembly 1080 including a battery cavity 1081 which is capable of receiving a battery 1082. The battery cavity 1081 may be configured to receive various types of batteries. In the present embodiment, the battery 1082 is a lithium ion battery which may be rechargeable. Alternatively, the battery cavity 1081 may be configured to receive standard batteries, such as triple AAA, double AA, C, and D type batteries. The battery cavity 1081 operably engages with a cover 1083 which protects the battery cavity 1081 and secures the battery 1082 in place. FIG. 109 shows a stud finder detector assembly 1090 including an AC adapter 1092 for receiving AC power through a standard AC cord 1094. The stud finder detector assembly may be configured to include a rechargeable battery with the AC adapter 1092 providing the means through which the battery is recharged. It is also contemplated that the stud finder detector assembly may be configured to require a coupling with an AC source in order to operate. In the alternative, the stud finder detector assembly may be powered by a fuel cell coupled within a receiving cavity of the stud finder detector assembly. The fuel cell may be a variety of types as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.,

The stud finder detector assembly, shown in FIG. 109, further includes a port 1096. The port 1096 enables communicative coupling of the stud finder detector assembly with a peripheral device. The peripheral device may include a variety of computing systems as may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The port 1096 may allow the user of the stud finder detector assembly to perform diagnostic operations upon the system to determine if it is functioning properly. The port 1096 may be a serial cable connector port, infrared port, radio frequency port, and the like. Use of wireless communication technology is contemplated to establish a network including the stud finder detector assembly of the present invention.

In an alternative embodiment, the coupling of the stud finder detector assembly with the nose casting assembly of the nail gun may provide a power coupling. The power coupling may direct an energy source being employed to power the nail gun into the stud finder detector assembly. This power coupling may be configured to provide power in a continuous manner or may be enabled to provide power upon an action taken by the operator of the nail gun. For example, the stud finder detector assembly may be provided power when the trigger of the nail gun is at least partially depressed by the operator of the nail gun. The trigger may employ a multiple stage system allowing the operator to proceed through different trigger positions before actually firing the nail gun. In the present example, the trigger may have a first and a second position. The first position may complete the power coupling with the stud finder detector assembly allowing the operator to locate a stud. The operator may be required to hold the trigger in this position during operation of the stud finder detector assembly. The second position engages the nail driving assembly of the nail gun and drives the nail. It is contemplated that the multiple stage trigger system may allow an operator to engage the trigger into a position and then physically release the trigger. The trigger system, once engaged, may continue to allow operation of the additional features, such as the stud finder detector assembly.

Referring to FIG. 110, a stud finder detector assembly 1100 including a light emitting diode 1102, is shown. The stud finder detector assembly 1100 detects the presence of a stud 1104 behind a surface 1106. When the stud 1104 is detected the light emitting diode lights up providing a visual indication to a user that the stud 1104 has been detected.

A laser indication assembly 1110 is shown in FIGS. 111 through 114. The laser indication assembly 1110 includes a housing 1111 coupled with a lens 1112. The housing 1111 encompasses a laser source which operationally engages the lens 1112 for establishing a laser line 1142 and a visual indicator 1144 on a first surface. It is understood that the laser source employed with the current embodiment of the present invention may comprise a variety of configurations as previously described throughout the specification. The housing 1111 further includes a slide mounting member 1114 which engages a slide adapter receiver 1115 disposed upon a nose casting assembly 1116 of a nail gun. As described above with respect to the stud finder detector assembly the housing 1111 is coupled with the nose casting assembly 1116 by the slide properly engaging a latch 1113 mechanism. However, alternative coupling assemblies may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Powering the laser source of the laser indication assembly 1110 may be accomplished through a variety of mechanisms. In the embodiment of FIG. 112, the laser indication assembly 1110, similar to the stud finder detector assembly, may be powered by a battery 1122 received within a battery cavity 1123. A cover 1124 may engage the battery 1122 and the battery cavity 1123 to affix the position of the battery 1122. The laser indication assembly 1110 may further include a selector assembly comprising a switch 1125 operationally coupled with the power source. The switch 1125 is a two position switch allowing the operator of the laser indication assembly 1110 to determine its usage. It is understood that the switch 1125 may be enabled to achieve a plurality of positions. Further, the switch 1125 may be configured in various forms, such as a button, slide switch, toggle switch, and the like. FIG. 113 illustrates the laser indication assembly 1110 employing an AC adapter 1132 for receiving AC power through the use of an AC cord 1134. It is contemplated that the laser indication assembly may be configured to include a rechargeable battery with the AC adapter 1132 providing the means through which the battery is recharged. It is also contemplated that the laser indication assembly may be configured to require a coupling with an AC source in order to operate. The laser indication assembly may be powered by a fuel cell coupled within a receiving cavity of the laser indication assembly. The fuel cell may be a variety of types as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Similar to the system described above for powering the stud finder detector assembly, the laser indication assembly may receive power through a power coupling interface located on the nose casting assembly.

The laser indication assembly, shown in FIG. 113, further includes a port 1136. The port 1136 enables communicative coupling of the stud finder detector assembly with a peripheral device. The peripheral device may include a variety of computing systems as may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The port 1136 may allow the user of the stud finder detector assembly to perform diagnostic operations upon the system to determine if it is functioning properly. The port 1136 may be a serial cable connector port, infrared port, radio frequency port, and the like. Use of wireless communication technology is contemplated to establish a network including the stud finder detector assembly of the present invention.

The laser source of the laser indication assembly establishes a visual indicator 1144 on a surface 1146, in FIG. 114. The visual indicator 1144 is a cross configuration, however, it is contemplated that the visual indicator may take a variety of forms, such as a point of light, a continuous line, and the like. In the present embodiment, the visual indicator 1144 is located on the surface 1146 in relation to the location of a stud 1148 located behind the surface 1146. The visual indicator 1144 establishes, for the operator of the nail gun, the location where a nail may be driven. Thus, the correlation between the location of the stud 1148 and the visual indicator 1144 may be direct, as shown, or the visual indicator 1144 may be established at any location upon the surface 1146.

A laser indication assembly 1150 may be coupled with a stud finder detector assembly 1151, as shown in FIGS. 115 through 122. A housing 1152 of the laser indication assembly is coupled with a first latch member 1153 and a second latch member 1154. The first and second latch member 1153 and 1154 operably engage with a first receiving mount 1155 and a second receiving mount 1156, respectively. The first and second receiving mounts 1155 and 1156 are included in a housing 1157 of the stud finder detector assembly 1151. The number, location, and type of assemblies used to couple the laser indication assembly 1150 to the stud finder detector assembly 1151 may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Also included in the housing 1157 of the stud finder detector assembly 1151 is a communications port 1158. The communications port 1158 enables the laser indication assembly 1150 to communicatively couple with the stud finder detector assembly 1151. The communicative coupling allows the stud finder detector assembly 1151 and the laser indication assembly 1150 to operationally engage in a co-operative manner. For example, the stud finder detector assembly 1151 may communicate to the laser indication assembly 1150 the detection of a stud behind a surface. In response, the laser indication assembly 1150 may initiate operation and provide a visual indicator upon the surface identifying for a user the location of the stud.

It is understood from previous description that both the laser indication assembly 1150 and the stud finder detection assembly 1151 may include independent power sources. The exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 115 through 122 may provide a system which is operational from a single power source. For example, the communications port 1158 may be adapted to provide a power coupling, thereby, enabling the laser indication assembly 1150 to receive power through the stud finder detection assembly 1151. A flow of power in the opposite direction, through the laser indication assembly 1150 to the stud finder detector assembly 1151, is also contemplated by the present invention. A power coupling, independent of the communication port 1158, between the two assemblies may be established in a variety of locations upon both housings.

The stud finder detector assembly 1151 further includes a light emitting diode 1159. The light emitting diode 1159 provides a visual indicator to a user when a stud has been detected. When the laser indication assembly 1150 is coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1151 the light emitting diode 1159 may be temporarily disabled. When the laser indication assembly 1150 is un-coupled from the stud finder detector assembly 1151 the light emitting diode becomes operational again. In an alternative embodiment, the light emitting diode 1159 may continue in operation even when the laser indication assembly 1150 is coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1151. As can be seen in FIG. 116, the combination stud finder detector and laser indication assembly (SFDLIA) 1165, is coupled with a nail gun 1160. The SFDLIA 1165 detects the location of a stud 1161 behind a surface 1162 and then visually identifies that location to a user of the nail gun. In FIG. 116, the visual indicator is a cross hairs marker 1163.

Alternatively, the SFDLIA 1165 may establish a visual indication field which identifies the location and approximate width of the stud detected. As can be seen in FIG. 117, the SFDLIA 1165 projects a pair of dashed lines 1172 for establishing the approximate outer boundaries of the stud detected behind the surface. In FIG. 118, the stud is located and then a pair of indicator markers 1182 establishes the approximate outer boundaries of the stud for the user of the nail gun. In the present embodiment, the markers consist of alternating line-dash-line configurations. Referring now to FIG. 119, a pair of continuous laser lines 1192 establishes the approximate outer boundaries of a stud.

Additionally, the SFDLIA 1165 may be used to establish the width of a stud and provide a visual marker to a user of a nail gun where to drive the next nail. As seen in FIG. 120, the SFDLIA 1165 establishes the approximate outer boundaries by using a pair of visual markers 1202, which are points of light, and then establishes a cross-hairs marker 1204 for indicating the approximate center of the stud. The center marker provides the user of the nail gun with a visual indication of where to drive the nail in order to engage the stud behind the surface. Other embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 121, may include establishing the approximate stud width using a visual marker 1212 which establishes a pair of points of light and then establishing a dashed center line 1214 for the user to follow for driving the nail. Still further, the present invention may provide dashed line visual markers 1222 for identifying stud width and a line-dash-line visual marker 1224 for the center line, as may be seen in FIG. 122.

A stud finder laser indicator assembly 1230, similar to that shown and described in FIGS. 102 through 104, is pivotally coupled with a nose casting assembly 1231 of a nail gun 1232, in FIG. 123. The pivotal coupling of the stud finder laser indicator assembly 1230 is accomplished by use of a swivel assembly coupled to the nose casting assembly 1231 and the stud finder laser indicator assembly 1230. It is contemplated that various assemblies may be used to provide pivotal movement. In FIG. 124, a stud finder detector assembly 1240 is coupled with a laser indication assembly 1241. The stud finder detector assembly 1240 is further coupled to a nose casting assembly 1242 of a nail gun 1243. In this embodiment, the laser indication assembly 1241 is pivotally coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1240. A swivel assembly provides the pivotal movement of the laser indication assembly 1241, however, alternative assemblies may be employed. Further, the laser indication assembly 1241 is communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1240 through the use of a cable 1244. The cable 1244 couples with the stud finder detector assembly 1240 and the laser indication assembly 1241 through communication ports individually located on the rear side of each assembly.

The pivotal motion provided in FIGS. 123 and 124 to the assemblies allows the laser to maintain a visual marker on a stud, once the location of the stud is detected. For example, an initial position of a stud behind a surface is detected. The laser establishes a visual indicator 1233 and 1245 on the surface in relation to the position of the stud. Then the user of the nail gun continues to move the nail gun and pass by the location of the stud. However, using the pivoting capabilities of the assemblies in FIGS. 123 and 124, the laser is enabled to maintain the visual marker in position on the surface relative to the location of the detected stud.

Referring now to FIGS. 125 and 126 a horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly 1250, is shown. The stud finder laser indicator assembly 1250 comprises a housing 1250A including a first side 1250B, a second side 1250C, a third side 1250D, a fourth side 1250E, a fifth side 1250F, and a sixth side 1250G. The third side 1250D is configured to include a first arm 1250H and the fourth side 1250E is configured to include a second arm 1250I. The fifth side 1250F further includes a mounting member 1250J which enables the coupling of the horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly 1250 with a nose casting assembly 1251 of a nail gun 1252, as shown in FIG. 125.

In FIG. 126, the horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly 1250 is shown to include a plurality of lens located about the circumference of a first side of the assembly. Each of the lenses is enabled to emit a laser beam provided from a laser source. Each lens may be individually set to emit the laser beam in a specific pattern. For instance, a first lens 1253, a second lens 1254, a third lens 1255, and a fourth lens 1256 may be set to establish a first visual marker indicating a first approximate outer boundary of the width of a stud detected behind a surface. A fifth lens 1257, a sixth lens 1258, a seventh lens 1259, and an eighth lens 1260 may be set to establish a second visual marker indicating a second approximate outer boundary of the width of the stud detected behind the surface. A ninth lens 1261, a tenth lens 1262, an eleventh lens 1263, a twelfth lens 1264, and a thirteenth lens 1265 may be set to establish a visual marker indicating a location which is the approximate center of the stud and/or indicating the location where the next nail may be driven by the user.

Using a single laser source to establish the pattern provided by the horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly 1250 may require that optical technologies, such as beam splitters and reflectors be employed within the housing 1250A to direct the laser beam through each of the individual lenses. The visual marker may be established as a continuous visual pattern or may be a non-continuous pattern. A non-continuous pattern may be a progression of visual markers alternating between an on and off state to provide a virtual visual field. Alternatively, some of the lenses may emit a laser beam and establish a visual marker in a continuous pattern while other lenses may emit a laser beam in a non-continuous pattern. The configuration of the pattern established may vary without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Alternatively, the horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly 1250 may employ a plurality of laser sources. Preferably, the number of laser sources is between two and thirteen. Thus, the present invention may provide an individual laser source operably coupled with each of the lenses disposed on the housing 1250A. When fewer laser sources are employed within the housing 1250A than there are lenses disposed on the housing 1250A various forms of optical technologies may be required to be employed in order to establish a visual field on a surface. As stated previously, these optical technologies may include beam splitters, reflectors, light signal enhancing instruments, and the like.

The light signal enhancing instruments may be photomultipliers comprising a variety of designs, such as photomultiplier end-on tubes, photomultiplier side-on tubes, or the like. The photomultipliers may accept an incident laser beam and intensify the light signal by increasing the number of electrons in order to maintain sufficient light signal strength as the laser beam is being passed down from one optical splitter to the next. Further, the light signal enhancing instruments may be positioned in front of the laser sources in order to provide optimum light signal output.

Alternatively, the light signal enhancing instruments may include a secondary laser source, such that the incident laser beam received has its signal strength increased. For example, a low power laser source may be included within the light signal enhancing instrument which contributes a second light signal to the existing laser beam in order to make up for a loss of light signal intensity. Such a system of multiple light signal enhancing instruments may decrease production costs by substituting low power laser sources for separate and independent laser sources located throughout the laser apparatus. It is understood that the configuration and numbers of light signal enhancing instruments may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The horseshoe stud finder laser indicator assembly 1250 further includes a stud sensor assembly 1266 for detecting the stud. The stud sensor assembly 1266 may employ various technologies, as described previously, for detecting the location of a stud behind a surface. In the preferred embodiment, the stud sensor assembly 1266 uses a single lens 1267 through which the stud sensing technology is employed. It is understood that the stud sensor assembly 1266 may comprise a plurality of lenses through which the stud sensing technology may be employed. The lenses may be distributed in various locations on the first side 1250B of the housing 1250A without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 127, a third embodiment of an integrated stud finder laser indicator assembly 1270, is shown. The integrated stud finder laser indicator assembly 1270 is coupled with a nose casting assembly 1271 of a nail gun 1272. The visual marker establishes a visual marker 1273 which indicates the approximate width of a stud 1275 and an indicator 1274 which approximates the center line of the stud 1275. The integrated stud finder laser indicator assembly 1270 comprises a housing 1273 which encompasses a laser assembly for emitting a laser beam and a stud sensor assembly for detecting the location of a stud.

It is contemplated that the stud finder detector assembly, the laser indication assembly, or any one of the stud finder laser indicator assemblies may be integrated with the nose casting assembly of a nail gun. Further, it is contemplated that the laser assemblies used within any of the previously mentioned embodiments of FIGS. 102 through 127 may include multiple laser sources for establishing the visual marker upon a surface. The number and type of laser sources employed may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a laser indication assembly may employ two laser sources, one being a high powered laser emitter and the other being a low powered laser emitter. The two laser sources may emit their incident laser beams through a single lens assembly or two or more lens assemblies disposed upon the housing of the laser indication assembly. Similarly, one of the embodiments of the combination stud finder laser indicator assembly may employ similar laser technology.

Referring generally now to FIGS. 128 through 138, a tracker nail gun assembly 1280 is shown. The tracker nail gun assembly 1280 comprises a nail magazine 1281 coupled with a nose casting assembly 1282. The nose casting assembly 1282 couples with a casing 1283, which houses a nail driving assembly operationally coupled with a trigger 1285. The casing 1283 couples with a handle 1284 which is coupled with the nail magazine 1281. It is understood that the nail magazine 1281 may be enabled to angularly adjust relative to the nose casting assembly 1282 and the handle 1284. Disposed on the casing 1283 is a tracker assembly 1286. The tracker assembly 1286 comprises a user interface assembly 1287 operationally coupled with a stud finder laser indicator assembly 1288.

The user interface assembly 1287 comprises a computing assembly including a display screen 1289 operationally coupled with a first selector 1290, a second selector 1291, a third selector 1292, and a fourth selector 1293. The display screen 1289 is enabled to display information, such as menu screens and directional capabilities which are then accessed through use of the selectors. For example, the display screen 1289 may prompt a user to determine the status of the stud finder and the laser, such as whether they are on or off. Further, the display screen may provide laser configuration options as seen in FIG. 130 allowing the user to select the type of visual field they wish to establish on a surface. When the stud finder is being used the computing assembly may provide a monitoring function that is displayed to the user on display screen 1289. As seen in FIGS. 131 and 132, as the user of the nail gun tries to locate the stud a visual display is provided showing the user where the stud is in relation to the tracker nail gun assembly 1280. In FIG. 131 the display screen 1289 provides information that the tracker nail gun assembly 1280 is positioned on the right edge of the stud. This allows the user to make any necessary corrections in order to center the position of the tracker nail gun assembly 1280, as shown in FIG. 132. It is also noted that the display screen 1289 includes a “Centered” readout which provides a secondary verification to the user of the positioning of the tracker nail gun assembly 1280. While the screens shown in the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 129 through 132 are exemplary, they should not be read as limiting. It is contemplated that the user interface of the current embodiment may be enabled with similar capabilities and configurations as those shown and described in FIGS. 1 through 101. In particular, the graphical user interface 5800 described in FIGS. 54 through 101 may be employed with the current embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 133 through 135, the tracker nail gun assembly 1280 is shown, detecting the location of a stud behind a surface and identifying the location of that stud. In the current embodiment, the user interface assembly 1287 indicates to the user that the stud finder assembly is operational and has detected the presence of a stud behind the surface. This is shown by icon 1294 on the display screen 1289. The tracker nail gun assembly 1280 may then use the laser indication assembly to establish a visual marker on the surface, such as the line-dash-line configuration shown in FIG. 134, to indicate the position of the stud to the user.

It is often the case in construction that items, such as electrical wiring 1332, plumbing pipe 1334, heating and air conditioning ducts, may be located in close proximity to a stud 1336. The importance of not damaging such items is clear as it may result in lost time, increased costs, damage to surrounding materials, and injury. Therefore, it is contemplated that the tracker assembly 1286 may be enabled to determine the difference between the stud 1336 located behind a surface 1338 and other items, such as those mentioned above. The tracker assembly 1286 may further be able to display to the user of the tracker nail gun assembly 1280 a warning indication when the nail gun is positioned to drive a nail into one of these items. FIG. 135 shows the display screen 1289 with a “Warning” display being given to the user, informing the user that driving a nail in this position may result in damage to various items. Thus, the tracker assembly 1286 may use various technologies for determining the substance of an item detected behind a surface. The technologies may include radar, sonar, electrical resistance detection, and the like as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Further, it is contemplated that the assemblies shown and described previously in FIGS. 102 through 132 may employ such technological capability.

In FIGS. 136 through 138, a tracker nail gun assembly 1360 is shown. The tracker nail gun assembly 1360 comprises a nail magazine 1361 coupled with a nose casting assembly 1362. A casing 1363 is coupled with the nose casting assembly 1362 and a handle 1364. The casing 1363 houses a nail driving assembly which is operationally coupled with a trigger 1365. The handle 1364 is coupled with the nail magazine 1361 and it is understood that the nail magazine 1361 may be adjustably coupled with the handle 1364 and the nose casting assembly 1362. Disposed on the casing 1363 is a user interface assembly 1366. The user interface assembly 1366 is communicatively coupled with a stud finder detector assembly 1367 and a laser indication assembly 1368. The laser indication assembly 1368 is communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1367. The user interface assembly 1366 comprises a computing assembly with a display screen 1375 and selectors 1376, 1377, 1378, and 1379, as described previously in FIGS. 128 thorough 135. FIG. 137 shows a display of the display screen 1375 querying a user of the nail gun as to the types of studs being searched for at the work site. The user may enter the configuration of the stud, indicating such features as size and shape or whether the stud is composed of wood or steel. It is understood that the display shown in FIG. 137 on display screen 1375 is exemplary and may be displayed in any of the configurations of the tracker nail gun assembly shown in FIGS. 128 through 138. A first adapter 1370 may be communicatively coupled with the computing system of the user interface assembly 1366 and allow a cable 1369 to couple with it. The cable 1369 may couple with a second adapter 1371 located on the stud finder detector assembly 1367, thereby establishing a communicative link between the user interface assembly 1366 and the stud finder detector assembly 1367. In the embodiment of FIG. 136, the laser indication assembly 1368 is communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1367 through a coupling assembly (not shown). The coupling assembly allows the laser indication assembly 1368 to be removed from the stud finder detector assembly 1367. Alternatively, in FIG. 137 the laser indication assembly 1368 is communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1367 by a cable 1372. The cable 1372 couples with a third port 1373 disposed on the stud finder detector assembly 1367 and a fourth port 1374 disposed on the laser indication assembly 1368. It is contemplated that the communicative link between the user interface assembly 1366 and the stud finder detector assembly 1367 and the laser indication assembly 1368 may be established using wireless technologies, such as infrared, radio frequency, Bluetooth, and the like.

In an alternate embodiment of the tracker nail gun assembly 1360, FIG. 138 shows a user interface assembly 1381, including a laser indication assembly 1382, communicatively coupled with a stud finder detector assembly 1383. A cable 1386 establishes the communicative link between the user interface assembly 1381 and the stud finder detector assembly 1383. The cable 1386 couples with a first port 1387 and a second port 1388. The user interface assembly 1381 includes a display screen and selectors as previously described in FIGS. 128 through 137. The user interface is coupled with a casing 1384 and the stud finder detector assembly 1383 is coupled to a nose casting assembly 1385.

Referring now to FIGS. 139 and 140, a tracker drill assembly 1390 is shown in two embodiments. FIG. 139 shows the tracker drill assembly 1390 coupled with a stud finder laser indicator assembly 1391. FIG. 140 shows the tracker drill assembly 1390 coupled with a stud finder detector assembly 1401 which is coupled with a laser indication assembly 1402. The coupling of the stud finder laser indicator assembly 1391 and/or the stud finder detector assembly 1401 may occur using any of the variety of assemblies described previously in FIGS. 102 through 138. The laser indication assembly 1402 may be pivotally coupled with the stud finder detector assembly 1401. The tracker drill assembly 1390 comprises a casing 1392, surrounding a motor assembly, coupled with an arbor assembly 1393 which is operationally coupled with a bit 1394. The bit 1394 may be either a screwdriver bit or a drill bit. A trigger 1395 is operationally coupled with the motor assembly. A handle 1396 couples with the casing 1392 and a power cord 1397 runs through the handle 1396 to supply power to the motor assembly. It is contemplated that the tracker drill assembly 1390 may include a motor assembly that provides a clutch to prevent over drilling. For example, drywallers use a clutched drywall gun to avoid drilling the screws through the drywall. The tracker drill assembly 1390 with a clutched motor assembly of the present invention may be used by drywallers and provide assistance in establishing and indicating the location of a stud behind a piece of drywall. Further, it is contemplated that the tracker drill assembly 1390 may use a variety of power sources, such as batteries, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, and the like, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 

1. A power tool control system, comprising: a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with a power tool for determining power tool settings; a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting; and a display menu which logically relates folders providing power tool setting options and readouts of current settings.
 2. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface provides pictographic display menus.
 3. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises selectors, for user operation of said power tool, correlated to a plurality of tabs displayed on the display menu.
 4. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact measurement and alignment device includes a kerf correction.
 5. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a touch screen for user operation of said power tool.
 6. The power tool control system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is a hand held graphical user interface.
 7. A table saw, comprising: a. a frame coupled with a table, said table having an aperture; b. a trunion moveably and operatively connected to said frame, said trunion supporting a blade and drive assembly, said blade capable of being operatively extended from said table aperture, said blade being operatively tilted in at least one axis tangent to said table; c. a fence moveably coupled with said table and generally moveable parallel to said blade; d. a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with said table saw, the non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a table saw setting: (i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (iii) fence to blade distance; and e. a graphical-user-interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical-user-interface for user operation of said table saw for indicating at least two of a table saw setting: (i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (iii) fence to blade distance.
 8. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said graphical-user-interface includes both text and graphics.
 9. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said graphical-user-interface includes multiple pages.
 10. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said multiple pages of said graphical-user-interface are logically related in related folders.
 11. The table saw of claim 7, wherein said graphical-user-interface includes at least one page illustrating (i) blade height, (ii) blade angle, and (ii) fence to blade distance.
 12. A nail gun including a nose casting assembly coupled with a casing housing a nail driving assembly, comprising: a stud finder detector assembly coupled with the nose casting assembly, the stud finder detector assembly for detecting the presence of a stud behind a first surface; a laser indication assembly including a laser source for emitting a laser beam communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly, the laser indication assembly for indicating the location of the stud, wherein the laser beam establishes a visual marker on the first surface indicating the position of the stud.
 13. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the nail gun further includes a user interface communicatively coupled with the stud finder detector assembly and the laser indicator assembly.
 14. The nail gun of claim 13, wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.
 15. The nail gun of claim 14, wherein the user interface further comprises at least one of the laser indication assembly and the stud finder detector assembly.
 16. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the visual marker is selected from the group consisting of a point, a cross-hair, a line, a dashed line, and a line-dash-line marker.
 17. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the stud finder detector assembly is coupled with the casing of the nail gun.
 18. The nail gun of claim 17, wherein the stud finder detector assembly is pivotally coupled with the casing or the nose casting assembly.
 19. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the laser indication assembly is pivotally coupled with the nose casting assembly, the casing, or the stud finder detector assembly.
 20. The nail gun of claim 12, wherein the laser indication assembly includes a plurality of laser sources for emitting a plurality of laser beams.
 21. A bevel angle indication assembly for a table saw with a saw blade coupled with a beveling assembly, comprising: a non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a table saw setting; a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said table saw for indicating a saw blade bevel setting; and a display menu which logically relates folders providing table saw setting options and readouts of current settings.
 22. A saw blade height indication assembly for a table saw with a saw blade coupled with a blade height adjustment assembly, comprising: a non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a table saw setting; a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said table saw for indicating a saw blade height setting; and a display menu which logically relates folders providing table saw setting options and readouts of current settings.
 23. A bit height indication assembly for a router table with a router bit engaged by a router coupled with a height adjustment assembly, comprising: a non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two of a router table setting; a graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device, the graphical user interface for user operation of said router table for indicating a router bit height setting; and a display menu which logically relates folders providing router table setting options and readouts of current settings.
 24. A non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two settings for operation of a power tool, comprising: a graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting; a touch screen display communicatively coupled with the graphical user interface, the touch screen display for user operation of said graphical user interface; and a selector assembly operably disposed upon said touch screen display, the selector assembly for logically relating menus of power tool control options.
 25. A non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two settings for operation of a power tool, comprising: a graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting; an adjustable display coupled with the graphical user interface, the adjustable display for presenting the a display screen at various angles, wherein the display screen may be adjusted to enable visual monitoring by a user.
 26. A non-contact measurement and alignment device for determining at least two settings for operation of a power tool, comprising: a graphical user interface for user operation of said power tool for indicating at least two of a power tool setting; a wireless networking assembly coupled with the graphical user interface, the wireless networking assembly for establishing a communicative link between the graphical user interface and a second computing system, wherein the wireless networking assembly enables a user of the non-contact measurement and alignment device to operate the power tool remotely.
 27. A graphical user interface for user operation of a power tool coupled with a non-contact measurement and alignment device, comprising: a housing; a computing assembly, including a memory coupled with a processor, disposed in the housing, the computing assembly for providing information handling capabilities; a computer application stored in the memory and accessed by the processor for determining at least two settings for operation of the power tool; a display screen communicatively coupled with the computing assembly and disposed on the housing, the display screen for indicating at least two of a power tool setting; 